Brian Babin

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Laci Kaye Booth of Livingston, Texas. She is a musician with an incredible God-given talent, which she has so graciously shared with her community, state, and country. Laci Kaye Booth was born in Livingston, Texas on August 28, 1995. Surrounded by sixty acres of land, Laci grew up playing in the woods and creeks of East Texas. Music was a big part of her life from the beginning, whether it was singing at home or church. Inspired by her upbringing she began singing at the age of three and learned to play the guitar at the age of eight. She has become a talented musician and song writer who finds joy in sharing her talents with others. Booth attended Sam Houston State University in pursuit of a degree in healthcare. While in college, she used her musical talent to help with expenses. Earlier this year, Laci was selected as a candidate on the competitive television show, American Idol, where she secured a spot in the top five. She sang herself into the hearts of many Americans. It has been said by hit vocal artists that she has a beautiful, ``unique timbre voice,'' and is a ``diamond in the rough.'' Livingston and the entire 36th Congressional District are proud of Laci's accomplishments and are looking forward to supporting her musical pursuits in the future. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to recognize Laci Kaye Booth. May God continue to bless Laci and the voice He has given her, so that she may continue to share it with America and the world.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mikko Colabe III Clem Fain Sylestine, the principaL chief of the Alabama- Coushatta Tribe of Texas who passed away on May 21, 2019 at 91 years old. Chief Colabe III was born on November 4, 1927, on the Alabama- Coushatta Indian Reservation and is of the Granddaddy Long Legs Clan. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas in 1952. Chief Colabe III was a teacher and coach at Southmayd High School, Holland High School, Shepherd High School, Woodville ISD, and Goodrich ISD. Although he retired in 1988, Chief Colabe III touched so many lives throughout his time in education. In addition to the passion he had for educating children, Chief Colabe III was a distinguished tribal leader for most of his adult life. He served as an elected Tribal Council member and then served as its chairman for many years. He assumed his chieftainship role in 1995 as the second chief and was elected as the principal chief in 2014. In serving as the principal chief, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Bronson Cooper Sylestine, who served as the chief from 1936 to 1969. Chief Colabe III was a direct descendant of Chief Colabe, who served as the second chief to Principal Chief Antone in the early 1800s. He also was an elder in the Indian Village Presbyterian Church on the Alabama-Coushatta Reservation. As I join the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe in their period of mourning through the end of 2019, I want to recognize the impact that Chief Colabe III had on many East Texas communities. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is an integral part of East Texas, large in part because of Chief Colabe III's passion, leaders hip, and hard work for the people he cared so deeply for. Madam Speaker, my prayers and condolences are with the family, friends, and Tribe of Chief Colabe III.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mikko Colabe, III, or Clem Fain Sylestine, as he was also known, the principal chief of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, who passed away on May 21, 2019, at the age of 91 years. Chief Colabe, III, was born on November 4, 1927, on the Alabama- Coushatta Indian Reservation and is of the Granddaddy Long Legs Clan. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, in 1952. Chief Colabe, III, was a teacher and coach at Southmayd High School, Holland High School, Shepherd High School, Woodville ISD, and Goodrich ISD. Although he retired in 1988, Chief Colabe, III, touched so many lives throughout his time in education. In addition to the passion that he had for educating children, Chief Colabe, III, was a distinguished Tribal leader for most of his adult life. He served as an elected Tribal Council member and then served as its chairman for many years. He assumed his chieftainship role in 1995 as the second chief and was elected as the principal chief in 2014. In serving as the principal chief, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Bronson Cooper Sylestine, who served as the chief from 1936 to 1969. Chief Colabe, III, was a direct descendant of Chief Colabe, who served as the second chief to Principal Chief Antone in the early 1800s. He was also an elder in the Indian Village Presbyterian Church on the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation. As I join the Tribe in their period of mourning through the end of 2019, I want to recognize the impact that he had on so many east Texas communities. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is an integral part of east Texas. Mr. Speaker, my prayers and condolences are with his family, his friends, and the Tribe of Chief Colabe, III.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my good friend, and fellow dentist, Dr. John David Chandler of Kerrville who passed away on May 15, 2019 in San Antonio. Dr. Chandler was born on September 7, 1947 in Victoria, Texas and graduated from Victoria High School in 1965. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Sam Houston State in 1969 and a doctorate in dentistry from the University of Texas Dental Branch in 1973. Following dental school, Chandler served as an officer in the United States Air Force Dental Corps at Yokoga Air Force Base from 1973 to 1976. For the next year Dr. Chandler served as an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Dental Branch. In 1977, Dr. Chandler moved to Huntsville and started his private dental practice. Chandler practiced for 38 years in Huntsville, Texas from where he was recognized as an outstanding restorative general dentist and was beloved by his patients, friends and his peers. John and his wife, Janie, retired in 2015 and moved to Kerrville, Texas where their love for the outdoors led them to create a backyard sanctuary for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Dr. Chandler had a passion for continued education and teaching and mentoring young dentists. He served in a leadership role in numerous state and national professional organizations such as the Academy of General Dentistry, Texas Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, Brazos Valley District Dental Society, and the Heart of Texas Dental Society. Dr. John David Chandler leaves behind his loving wife of forty-nine years and eleven months, nearly half a century. John is also survived by his son Ty Scott Chandler of Austin, son Ryan Todd Chandler of Amarillo, brother and sister-in-law Jay and Ann Garner of Laguna Vista, and sister, Brenda Anderson of Austin. Madam Speaker, my prayers and condolences are with the family and friends of Dr. Chandler.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judge Holly Williamson, Harris County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 8, Place 1, on being named the 2018 Judge of the Year by the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas. Judge Holly Williamson took the oath of office as Presiding Judge of Harris County Justice of the Peace Court, Precinct 8-1 on January 1, 2009. Holly earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from Southwest Texas State University and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston. Prior to her election to the bench, Judge Williamson practiced law in federal, state, and justice of the peace courts. Judge Williamson is responsible for a staff of fourteen professional clerks and a budget of $1.3 million. She presides over a diverse case load of approximately 20,000 cases a year that include: civil and criminal trials, jury and bench trials, traffic court, hot checks, evictions, probable cause hearings, administrative hearings, and truancy court. From 2009 to 2015, Judge Williamson served as the Co-Presiding Judge for the 16 Justice Courts of Harris County. Judge Williamson is involved in many professional organizations as a volunteer or presenter including the Texas Justice Court Training Center (TJCTC) Education Committee. She is responsible for developing and implementing curriculum for both continuing judicial education and the TJCTC New Judge School. Judge Williamson is a leader in the field of truancy law and was appointed by then Harris County Judge Ed Emmett to the Truancy Committee where she was tasked with recommending a uniform truancy policy for the school districts of Harris County. When not in the courtroom, Judge Williamson is actively involved with her family and volunteering with numerous civic organizations. Holly has been married to Dr. Danny Williamson, a Pasadena chiropractor and small business owner, for over thirty years. Judge and Dr. Williamson have one daughter, Mary Kate, a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in aerospace engineering. The Williamson family are active parishioners at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise here today commending President Trump for not waiving the Jones Act. This is a hypothetical picture, thank goodness, a Chinese-built vessel, subsidized by their communist regime, operated by the Chinese, and delivering Chinese goods, all in the very heartland of the United States of America. But this could easily become a reality if the Jones Act is waived. For the past 100 years, the Jones Act has brought strength and certainty to maritime commerce here in the United States. It has protected the rights of American sailors, created and maintained American jobs, and been one of the single largest factors in facilitating the strong American economy that we are enjoying. The Jones Act states that goods shipped between U.S. ports are to be built, owned, and operated by the citizens of the United States, and to support the Jones Act would be an easy decision to continue promoting the policy of America first. To waive the Jones Act would be to directly jeopardize our national security, our economic growth, and our ability to provide American jobs all across this country. Worst of all, waiving the Jones Act would be allowing these foreign-operated ships into our waterways and could be opening the door to espionage. These foreign vessels would have the potential to literally threaten our national security by exposing our waterways to very real threats. Not only has the Jones Act played a vital role in economic growth, but it has and continues to play a very large role in disaster recovery and the efforts of emergency response. Take a look at the photos of New York City after the attack on 9/11. You will see the Hudson River and the East River full of American vessels who quickly came to the rescue. Or how about all of the supplies delivered to the coastal communities after catastrophic hurricanes? The list goes on to include the cleanups of oil spills, fires, and nautical accidents. Americans are always there, and the Jones Act makes that possible. The Jones Act creates stability and certainty to the maritime and shipping industry. Taking away the Jones Act strips this industry of job and market availability and stability, handing it over to foreign countries to cheaply fill the role through questionable labor practices and lower standards of performance. It would singlehandedly jeopardize one of the Nation's most reliable and strongest of our economic drivers. As a conservative Republican, I am well aware that many groups and thought leaders here in Washington and back in Texas, whom I respect and agree with on most of the other issues, do not share my view on the Jones Act, and they are actively working to try to weaken or even repeal it. I respectfully, but firmly, disagree, and that is why I am calling on any and all of my colleagues who want to repeal the Jones Act to explain why the image that they see here would make for a better and stronger America. If they need to borrow this poster, I will be glad to let them use it. Just let me know.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a great man and thank him for fifty years of service to the City of Orange's Fire Department, Chief David Frenzel. Chief Frenzel was born on June 25, 1947 to E.P. and Sophia Frenzel in Orange, Texas. He and his brother, Dolan, were raised there and attended public school. Chief Frenzel began his college career at Lamar Tech anticipating a career in the medical field. In the spring of 1969 Fire Chief Vertis Sands called and offered him a job with the fire department on a Thursday. He withdrew from classes at Lamar on Friday and went to work at the fire department on Saturday, April 19, 1969. The rest, as they say, is history. Chief Frenzel did go on to earn his degree from Lamar University in Fire Protection Technology in 1978 and completed the Executive Officer program through the National Fire Academy in 2000. Through the years, Chief Frenzel advanced through the ranks at the fire department and was named Fire Chief in 1997. Today he continues to serve in that capacity, claiming that he still has a few things he would like to accomplish within the department before retirement. In addition to his firefighter duties, Chief Frenzel has volunteered in many capacities throughout the community, including service on St. Mary's Catholic Church Pastoral Council; serving on the boards of the Sabine Neches Chief Association and Lamar Institute of Technology; and serving as Scout Master for Troop 1 for twenty-five years with 75 young men earning the rank of Eagle Scout under his leadership. Chief Frenzel and his wife Hildy have been married for 41 years and have two sons, David and Adam, both of whom were valedictorians at West Orange Stark High School and went on to graduate from Texas A & M University. They are also the proud grandparents of five grandchildren Charlie, Sam, Andy, Abigail, and Alden. Chief Frenzel is known for his humble ways, quick wit, and knowledge of Orange history. His most admirable quality is his love of God, his family, and for the Orange Fire Department. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Chief Frenzel on his half century of dedicated service to the Orange Fire Department and in thanks of a heroism few share, but all are grateful for.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Baytown Christian Academy Bulldogs on winning both the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) football and boys basketball state championships for the 2018-2019 school year! On Thursday, December 6, 2018, Baytown Christian Academy captured its second TAPPS 6-Man Division III football State Championship in three years with a 49-34 victory over Weatherford Christian Academy. In the playoffs the Bulldogs defeated Greenville Christian Academy, Fredericksburg Heritage School, and Cedar Park Summit Christian Academy on the way to the title game. The Bulldog football team finished the 2018 season with a perfect 14-0 record. On March 1, 2019, the Baytown Christian Academy basketball team won its first TAPPS Class 1A Boys State Championship, beating Tyler Street Christian Academy of Dallas by a score of 63-39. On the way to their historic victory, the Bulldogs defeated Cypress Oaks Adventist Christian School, Fredericksburg Heritage School, Houston Southwest Christian Academy, and San Antonio Legacy Christian Academy. The team finished the 2018-2019 season with a record of 29-3. The entire basketball team was also on the state title winning football team. I would like to personally recognize each student and their coaches. Players: Grayson Albarado, Colton Anderson, Jelan Dowdy, Kory Early, Ethan Flukinger, Charles Flynt, Jaden Jefferson, Jaron Jefferson, Aden Lambeth, Jordan Lewis, Jordan Luke, William Morgan, Matthew Pate, Kyron Pitre, Rajean Sheppard, Chance Strange, Dave Sun, Richard Washington, Jakob Wheatfall, Trey Williams, Sebastian Wilson, and Bryce Gillum. Head Football Coach: Jeromey Anderson. Assistant Football Coaches: Mike Usry, Nathan Gray, Daren McClellan, Quintin Outland, and Jason Welch. Trainers: Janci McClellan, Emily Gray, and Carli Norris. Head Basketball Coach: Kevin Fletcher. Athletic Director: Kevin Jones. Headmaster: James Twardowski. I wish each of these young men continued success in the classroom and in athletics. Go Bulldogs!

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Baytown Christian Academy Bulldogs on winning both the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) football and boys basketball state championships for the 2018-2019 school year. On Thursday, December 6, 2018, Baytown Christian Academy captured its second TAPPS 6-Man Division III football State Championship in three years with a 49-34 victory over Weatherford Christian Academy. In the playoffs the Bulldogs defeated Greenville Christian Academy, Fredericksburg Heritage School, and Cedar Park Summit Christian Academy on the way to the title game. The Bulldog football team finished the 2018 season with a perfect 14-0 record. On March 1, 2019, the Baytown Christian Academy basketball team won its first TAPPS Class 1A Boys State Championship, beating Tyler Street Christian Academy of Dallas by a score of 63-39. On the way to their historic victory, the Bulldogs defeated Cypress Oaks Adventist Christian School, Fredericksburg Heritage School, Houston Southwest Christian Academy, and San Antonio Legacy Christian Academy. The team finished the 2018-2019 season with a record of 29-3. The entire basketball team was also on the state title winning football team. I would like to personally recognize each student and their coaches. Players: Grayson Albarado, Colton Anderson, Jelan Dowdy, Kory Early, Ethan Flukinger, Charles Flynt, Jaden Jefferson, Jaron Jefferson, Aden Lambeth, Jordan Lewis, Jordan Luke, William Morgan, Matthew Pate, Kyron Pitre, Rajean Sheppard, Chance Strange Dave Sun, Richard Washington, Jakob Wheatfall, Treyvian Williams, Sebastian Wilson. Football Coach: Jeromey Anderson. Basketball Coach: Kevin Fletcher. Athletic Director: Kevin Jones. Headmaster: James Twardowski. I wish each of these young men continued success in the classroom and in athletics. Go Bulldogs

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Charles Eugene Gee of Jasper, Texas, who recently lost his four-year battle with cancer. Mr. Gee passed away at his home surrounded by loved ones on April 3, 2019. Charles Eugene Gee, more affectionately known as Charlie, was born on October 10, 1942 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His family eventually moved to Jasper, Texas, where he graduated from Jasper High School in 1960 and married his high school sweetheart, Sue Hollis Gee, in July of 1962. In 1966, Charlie graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture and Forestry. He began working as a new-hire for Kirby Lumber Co. and eventually became the logging superintendent. After 18 years with Kirby, Charlie decided to start his own logging business, Charles Gee Logging Inc. Over the years, he worked many long hours as the dedicated and successful owner of his logging company, as well as several other local businesses. In fact, Charlie later became the State Coordinator for the Texas Logging Counsel, a position in which he served proudly to improve conditions for future generations of loggers. After his college graduation, Charlie became a dedicated member of the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department. During his time at the department, he served as an original member of the Board of Trustees for the Texas Fire Museum, president of the East Texas Firemen and Fire Marshall's Association, a member on the committee for the Retirement and Pension Fund for Jasper's firemen, and even as the Fire Chief. He also became an instructor for the Texas A&M Fire School in College Station, where he eagerly shared his years of fire-fighting knowledge and experience with younger generations. His devotion and service will live on through the various fire departments in Jasper County and surrounding areas that were established on his instruction. Charlie is survived by his bride of nearly 57 years, Sue Hollis Gee; his daughters Sarah Smith and husband Sam; Laura McMillon and husband Mitch; Rebecca Soisson and husband Scott; Jennifer Cline and husband Billy; and brother Bill Gee and wife Sue. Charlie is also survived by his grandchildren: Matthew and wife Halea; Ashleigh, Charlie, John, Henry, Jacob, Emily, Michael, Brian, Brandon, and Grant, as well as four great-grandchildren. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to remember the life of Charles Eugene Gee. May God comfort his family during this time.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the centennial anniversary of Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District in Baytown, Harris County, Texas. Goose Creek ISD was created by an act of the Texas Legislature in February 1919. On July 26, 1919, the first Goose Creek School Board was organized and hired John F. Crawford as the district's first superintendent. Many of the first students to attend Goose Creek schools where children of employees of the nearby Humble Oil and Refining Company, later known as ExxonMobil. In 1922, the first school bond election provided the necessary funding for building Anson Jones Elementary School, Baytown Elementary, and Goose Creek High School. Goose Creek experienced tremendous growth during the mid-twentieth century with the annexation of Highlands in 1936 and the unification of the Tri-Cities of Goose Creek, Pelly, and Baytown in 1948. Cedar Bayou ISD merged with Goose Creek ISD on March 6, 1954, forming the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District. Today, Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District is the largest employer in the community. With nearly 24,000 students and twenty-eight schools, Goose Creek is the fifty-eighth largest school district in the State of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to recognize and celebrate the 100th anniversary of Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District. May God continue to bless the students, faculty, and communities the district serves.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, former Vice President Joe Biden has been in the news a lot lately, along with a predictable narrative from the Washington know-it-all chorus and their mainstream media partners that he has a distinguished record and reputation as an expert on foreign policy. How very ``Washington'' it is to assume that with his long Washington resume, especially his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, that Joe Biden is a foreign policy genius. Nice guy that he is, let's look at the facts. Because America's national security depends on America's wise choice of our next President, I want to quote the great Charles Krauthammer, who more accurately described Mr. Biden's record back in 2012. The Vice President over the last 30 years holds the American record for being wrong on the most issues in Foreign Affairs ever. And the list starts with the nuclear freeze in the early eighties against Thatcher and Reagan, which is one of the follies of the era. He supported it. He was against aid to the Nicaraguan Contras, which in the end brought democracy and ended the Sandinista rule at the time. He was against Reagan's expansion of the defense budget, which bankrupted the Soviet Union and led to the end of the Soviet Empire. He was against Reagan on strategic defenses, which is the big advantage that we have now in missile defense. And look at where he was on Iraq. He opposed the first Iraq war, the Gulf war that liberated Kuwait, that everyone agrees was a good thing. He supported the second Iraq war, which he, not I, say was a terrible mistake. And then when the surge happened, he opposed the surge in Iraq which rescued a losing war and ended in our leaving with our heads held high and some promise of the future. He seems to be the Herbert Hoover of American foreign policy. And for him to be the spokesman for the Obama Administration on these affairs, I think is quite ironic. It is not just conservative commentators who can see through the illusion of Vice President Biden's foreign policy judgment. Robert Gates, former CIA director and Defense Secretary for George W. Bush and Barack Obama, had this to say about Biden in his book, ``Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War'': ``I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.'' I rarely, if ever, agree with Barack Obama, and I am glad to see our country is now back on the road to a strong foreign policy. But I will give President Obama credit for wisely disregarding Vice President Biden's counsel on, arguably, the greatest achievement of Obama's presidency: his authorization in 2011 of the raid by America's SEAL Teams that killed Osama Bin Laden. As Vice President Biden, himself, recalled to a group of Democrats in 2016, President Obama asked for a final recommendation from his national security team, and he asked, Joe, what do you think? His answer was, Mr. President, my suggestion is, don't go. Many agree that President Obama picked Biden as his Vice President in 2008 to quell concerns about his youth and lack of experience in Foreign Affairs, but in retrospect, it has now become clear that the most useful role he played was for Mr. Obama to take whatever he recommended and advised and conclude that it was probably the wrong approach. Mr. Biden now believes that he is the right man to lead our Nation as President. America will choose a President in 2020, and I hope that Republicans and Democrats will conclude, as our 44th President and countless others have, that the opposite might just be true.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my great colleague from the State of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, on March 21, we celebrated World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. What an appropriate thing to celebrate as folks with Down syndrome make incredible contributions to society every single day that should be acknowledged and appreciated. I, for one, am thankful for all of those with Down syndrome that I have had the great pleasure and honor of knowing and learning from. With the rise of prenatal screening tests across the United States, the number of babies born with Down syndrome every year has significantly decreased. And while we do not know the exact number of Down syndrome children who are aborted each year, it is estimated that approximately two-thirds of children diagnosed in the womb are aborted. Two-thirds of children who would go on to make a significant impact in this world are murdered before they are given a chance to even be able to have that opportunity. Iceland, in particular, has almost completely eradicated Down syndrome births. Statistics show that they have an almost 100 percent termination rate of Down syndrome children. France has a 77 percent termination rate; while Denmark is at 98 percent. I pray that the United States will reject the idea that Down syndrome children somehow are less than other children. As a society, we should move away from any idea that advocates killing any child in its mother's womb. And as a pro-life Congressman, I believe that all life is valuable, especially the lives of those who cannot speak for themselves. Aborted Down syndrome children are just that, they are children who have their own hopes and dreams for a future and to live a long, healthy life. To take away their right to life is inconceivable to me and abhorrent. I will continue to fight for legislation that protects every single unborn child, regardless of whether or not they have an extra chromosome.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Arizona for yielding. I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong opposition to H. Res. 109, the Green New Deal. This resolution is nothing short of a socialistic takeover of our energy, our transportation, and our agricultural industries that aims to change every single aspect of our lives, including how Americans eat, travel, stay warm, build their homes, and even what jobs we take. As a fiscal conservative, I believe that the Green New Deal is entirely irresponsible. Recently, our national debt exceeded $22 trillion, and we have no realistic plan for paying that off. The Green New Deal would add trillions more to our debt, while simultaneously destroying the American economy. It would also transfer tremendous costs onto the taxpayers, a total of $93 trillion over 10 years. For example, every home and every building would need to be retrofitted at the cost of $2.5 trillion over the next decade. Additionally, the Green New Deal's stated goal is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in that same timeframe, which will cost the taxpayer $11 trillion. Our current tax base could not support this catastrophic level of new spending. Therefore, taxes will need to be raised on every single American and business, inflicting massive damage on our economy due to the loss in take-home pay for the average family and resulting in job losses in the private sector. Proponents of the Green New Deal also want to see all our American power come from wind or solar or batteries. This is completely unsustainable, currently, and will lead to blackouts, a dwindling food supply, and an all-out assault on private property rights. The Green New Deal also contains no plan on what we will do with all the refuse and the trash that will be resulting from the millions of appliances, batteries, and buildings that need to be replaced or retrofitted. This proposal, as grand in its scope as it is absent in its specifics, betrays a shocking naivete and a total absence of understanding of basic economic principles or even of our electric grid and infrastructure. Most importantly, the authors of this proposal fail to appreciate the love of liberty and freedom that the American people share. Americans will never stand for such a radical, socialistic restructuring of our economy, and it must be strongly and emphatically rejected. Over the last century, we have seen socialist governments around the world make the same empty promises of unlimited peace and prosperity if only their citizens would just relinquish control of their affairs and give up their freedoms and liberty to an overbearing government. The result has inevitably been the same: barren fields, crumbling infrastructure, broken economies, oppressed peoples, and, eventually, fleeing populations, as we have seen firsthand in Venezuela, Cuba, the Soviet Union, and many other failed socialistic states.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute, honor and thank World War II veteran Richard Wade. On February 5, 1924 Richard Wade, Jr. was born on an icy cold day to Richard and Mary Frances Wade. When he was only five weeks old, Richard's grandparents, David Kearney, an Irish immigrant, and his wife, Illa, began to raise him. Richard spent his childhood and teen years in Portland, Maine. In January of 1942, Richard enlisted in the United States Navy. He trained in aviation radio at Naval Air Station Banana River, now called Patrick Air Force Base. He worked convoy coverage and submarine patrol and was a part of the Helicopter Development Squadron. While in service, he traveled to Brazil where he was stationed for three and a half months. Other assignments in Brazil took him to Aratu and Natal. In Natal, Richard worked the radio one night for so long that he became deaf and did not regain his hearing for two days. Richard received the American Theater Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal and Combat Air crewman Insignia. While stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, Richard received the news that the war had ended. He remembers the historic occasion and celebrating with his buddies. Richard worked for thirty years at Missouri Pacific Railroad as a truck driver. He retired and settled in Rye, Texas, and currently resides in Livingston, Texas. We thank Richard Wade for responding to the call to protect and defend this great nation. His sacrifices exemplify why our nation remains ``the land of the free and the home of the brave.''

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember Dorothy Geraldine Noak Rothermel who passed away on March 1, 2019 in Pasadena, Texas. Dorothy Geraldine Noak Rothermel was born December 20, 1929 in Carmine, Texas to Herbert and Clara Keng Noak. Dorothy graduated from Round Top-Carmine High School in 1947. On December 28th of that year, Dorothy married Thomas Hugh Rothermel of Burton, Texas. Ms. Rothermel attended Blinn College in Brenham; Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos; and graduated from the University of Houston in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Vocational Home Economics. She also did graduate work at the University of Houston and at the Sacred Heart Dominican College in Houston. Dorothy worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone in Houston and New Braunfels as a Switchboard Operator. In 1963, Dorothy started teaching at Pasadena High School. Her career at Pasadena High School spanned twenty-four years where she served as Department Chairman and a Classroom Teacher in the Vocational Homemaking Department. After retirement, she served as a substitute teacher at Round Top-Carmine High School for several years. Dorothy held memberships in the Texas State Teachers Association, Vocational Homemaking Teachers of Texas, Texas Retired Teachers Association as a Life Member, Washington County Genealogical Society, the German-Texas Heritage Society, Brenham Area Retired School Personnel Association, and the Texas Wendish Heritage Society. Ms. Rothermel loved to research and write articles on the family history of the Noak, Keng, Hinze, Rothermel and Vogelsang families. She served on various committees helping to further her interest in genealogy, including the Fayette County History Book and the 100th Anniversary History Book of Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine. In retirement, Dorothy served as a member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church, President of the Ladies Aid, Secretary for the Church Council, and Secretary of the General Board for the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (WCLA). Dorothy is survived by her Daughters: Connie Sue Rothermel Bird and husband, Marshall, of Splendora, and Pamela Rothermel Guthrie and husband, James, of Pasadena; Granddaughters: Rachel Diana Bird Poffinbarger and husband, James, of Splendora, Johanna Ruth Bird, of Houston, and Moriah Ashlee Guthrie, of Pasadena; and Great- Granddaughters: Camille Poffinbarger, Corinne Poffinbarger, and Cristin Poffinbarger, all of Splendora. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to remember the life of Dorothy Geraldine Noak Rothermel. May God comfort her family at this time.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize World War II veteran Reuel Walters for his service to the United States of America. Reuel was born at home in Livingston, Texas on January 16, 1925. A midwife attended to his mother. One of six children, at the age of eighteen, Reuel was drafted and courageously answered the call to serve and defend his country in the United States Army. Reuel completed his basic training in San Antonio, Texas and deployed as a radio control repairman. From 1941 to 1945, Reuel served in the Solomon Islands, Bougainville Island, Sipan Island and Guam. He saw the Enola Gay before it dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Reuel was in Guam when he heard the announcement over a loudspeaker that the war had ended. After his time in the service, Reuel worked as a lineman for thirty- six years at Houston Line & Power. In 1985, he retired and moved to Livingston, Texas. Madam Speaker, it is because of the sacrifices made by men and women like Reuel Walters that we are able to enjoy the freedoms that we hold so dear. Let us not forget this great generation. We thank Reuel for the contributions he has made to preserve our liberty.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express sincere gratitude to World War II veteran, husband, and father, Mr. David Dacke. David was born on September 11, 1927 in Houston, Texas. He met the love of his life Letha at the age of six when his parents told him he was to walk the new little girl on the block to school for her first day. David took her to class and showed her around, leading years later to their marriage. David learned to weld at the Parker Brother shipyard, a talent he would use in the Navy. At the age of eighteen, David courageously answered the call to serve and defend his country. While in the Navy, he served on the USS Evans and swam in the beautiful blue waters of the Bikini Atoll before it later was the site of atomic bomb testing. In 1947, David returned home from the Navy. When he left home, Miss Letha was a girl, but she had become a young lady by the time he returned. The two sweethearts were married on March 26, 1949. They had two children, Darrell and Diana. This year David and Letha will celebrate their 70th anniversary. After the war, David worked as a welder building barges in a ship yard. He also was in the chicken business where he supplied eggs to Houston schools and businesses. David retired and moved to Livingston in 1993, where he and Mrs. Letha still reside. David Dacke has demonstrated his dedication to the United States of America. It is with great admiration that I thank him for his selfless service to our country.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of World War II veteran, teacher, professional football player and rancher, Mr. Merdolph Walker. Merdolph was born on a cold winter's night on January 16, 1923, in Soda, Texas. He was born in a small wooden house as sleet and snow fell outside. The midwife attending to his mother had to walk a mile home that night holding kindling for a light. The oldest of seven children, Merdolph attended Soda Grammar School, walking two miles to and from school each day. While attending college at Sam Houston State University, Merdolph was drafted into the Army, serving from 1942 to 1946 as a combat engineer. Stationed in Guam during World War II, he received orders in his first week to search for land mines. Merdolph spent his next six weeks on open waters unloading cargo boats. There were no beds onboard, so he slept wherever he could find an empty space. In one combat mission, gunfire was exchanged. Later, for seven months, Merdolph and other combat engineers would spend twelve hours a day building the runway used by the aircraft which dropped the atomic bomb and ended World War II. By that time, Merdolph was in Okinawa, Japan, where upon hearing shots fired and shouting, he and a buddy ran outside to learn the war had finally ended. After returning to the states, Merdolph reenrolled at Sam Houston College. He received his master's degree in administration, majored in physical education and minored in industrial arts. In 1948, he began a short career playing professional football in Pittsburg before deciding he could make more money teaching and coaching. Merdolph taught and coached for thirty-four years before retiring. Madam Speaker, let us pause to honor this patriot who has faithfully, and humbly served our country, state and community.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a dear friend and loving father, whose unquestioned patriotism and lifelong service to others will be sorely missed. The world lost a great man when my friend, Dr. Loren J. Feldner, D.D.S. went to be with the Lord on January 17, 2019. Dr. Feldner was more than just a leader in his profession; he was a force for good in the world. His colleagues will remember a true advocate of the dental field, someone who served faithfully through his state dental society and the American Dental Association. After hours, he volunteered his professional expertise, working with underprivileged communities and veterans. This passion for others was evident through his care and treatment for patients, which was second to none. Outside of the office, Dr. Feldner was a devoted family man who chased the fullest life the world could offer. Loren spent his free time piloting his boat, driving race cars, and traveling the world with his daughter Alexandra and his love, Terry Park. His laugh was contagious to all who encountered him, and he genuinely cared about every single person who crossed his path. Loren served people with the same passion with which he served God. His generosity had no bounds, and I will certainly miss our friendship. I will continue to pray for the Feldner family through this difficult time. Loren's legacy on Earth will be long-lasting, and it brings me peace knowing my friend is finally home. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to remember Dr. Loren Feldner. May God bless his family and all those he leaves behind.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. ``He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments. ``The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.'' Section 3: ``He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.'' Section 4: ``The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.''

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Arizona for this Special Order and for the opportunity to speak. Mr. Speaker, last weekend, a handful of colleagues and I toured the southern border between Arizona and Mexico, meeting with Border Patrol agents, ranchers, law enforcement, and Angel Families, who have lost loved ones to illegals. Mr. Speaker, I can say, more confidently than ever, that we need stronger border security. This is not--I repeat, not--a manufactured crisis on the border, as we are hearing the opposite side of the aisle say. This crisis at the border is getting worse, but the solution is the same: we must secure our borders in order to regain control of our broken immigration system. The brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our country are doing so without the full support of the Federal Government, and that is unacceptable and tragic. It certainly is not a manufactured crisis. We need to build a border wall, construct roads and infrastructure, improve our technological resources, and restore pay to Border Patrol agents that was stripped out under the Obama administration. I hear our Democratic opponents say across the aisle that walls are immoral and ineffective. A wall is not immoral. It is absolutely necessary. Certainly, a wall will not prevent all illegals from coming over, but no wall keeps no one out. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to put their money where their mouth is and actually go and visit our southern border. This is what our opponents say across the aisle is border security. We saw it. We were there. I want the American people to see this, and my constituents to see this. Our Democrat colleagues need to go down to the border and see this.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lamar State College Orange on the occasion of their 50th anniversary. Lamar State College Orange is a unique campus on the Sabine River in Orange, Texas, composed of re-purposed buildings that revitalized the downtown area creating a beautiful campus. LSCO opened in the fall of 1969 as an extension center of Lamar University and first held classes for 362 students in the vacant Tilley Elementary School located on the site of the former naval base in Orange. That structure burned in 1971, prompting community leaders to raise funds for the purchase of a new facility. The fund raising campaign produced $250,000 that allowed for the purchase of a building located on Front Street in downtown Orange. That same year the Texas legislature approved the operation of a two- year educational center in Orange and appropriated $125,000 to support the operation of the center then known as Lamar University at Orange. Dr. Joe Ben Welch played a key role in the early growth and development of the college. He served as director, dean, provost and president during his nineteen-year tenure at the institution. The initial class offerings focused on academic courses that would transfer and count toward a baccalaureate degree. Welch, however, saw the need to offer career-oriented programs that would prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce, and he began to add programs such as vocational nursing and welding. This mix of academic and career- oriented programs defines the campus mission to this day. Dr. Welch retired in 1989 after nineteen years of service to Lamar. In 1994, the Board selected Dr. J. Michael Shahan as President of LSCO. Under Shahan's leadership, the campus has grown to over 2,000 students and made significant improvements to the campus infrastructure. The Ron E. Lewis Library was completed in 2001, the first new construction in the college's history. A new nursing school and classroom building was added in 2013. Dr. Shahan saw Lamar through hurricanes and floods and still managed to continue the growth that led to an enrollment of more than 2,600 students today. After twenty-four years, Dr. Shahan retired in 2018 with the honor of having the new Cypress Event Center being renamed the J. Michael and Bridget Shahan Event Center. In 2018, Dr. Thomas Johnson was selected as President, and under his leadership Lamar State College Orange will no doubt continue its legacy of two-year academic programs, numerous technical programs and customized training programs to meet the needs of local business and industry playing a key role in southeast Texas' growth and development. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to recognize Lamar State College Orange on this important anniversary. May God continue to bless and grow LSCO and the community and students it serves.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. I certainly was. Mr. Speaker, as a Representative from the 36th District of Texas, I made a promise to my constituents and the American people to secure the southern border, and I intend to keep my promise. The last 2 months alone, Border Patrol agents have apprehended roughly 140,000 illegal aliens on the southwest border, which is a staggering 86 percent increase from this time last year alone. Without question, funding to build the wall is crucial, and now is our chance. In December of 2018, Border Patrol agents apprehended more than 27,000 members of family units, the highest monthly total on record, a number which has been on a steady incline for months. I have seen this with my own eyes. Mr. Speaker, last month, I joined my Republican colleagues here in the House and voted to fully fund the government and secure money for the border wall. Regrettably, the Democrats blocked this commonsense legislation and are now unwilling to negotiate with us or the President. The crisis at our southern border is a dire national security and humanitarian concern, and a solution must not be delayed any longer. The border encompasses approximately 2,000 miles; but with too many of those miles left open, we are hurting our border States, and, quite frankly, the entire Nation is put at risk. It is past time for the Democrats to come to the table with a serious offer so that we can move forward toward meaningful border security. Simply put, we have very little idea who is coming across the border, what their intentions are, and we have to get a handle on this. Criminal organizations, cartels, and others who wish to harm us are easily entering our country undetected. Indeed, 500 Texans have died at the hands of illegal criminals in Texas alone. And Houston, which I represent part of, is the number one port of entry for sex trafficking in the United States, a very dubious, indeed, record there. I am willing to fight for this, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. I thank my friend, the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler), for the time.

Mr. BABIN. I was at the border this past weekend.