Brian Babin

Mr. BABIN

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

Mr. BABIN. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins), my next-door neighbor and cosponsor of this amendment.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, when a disaster like Hurricane Harvey strikes, the most important job we have is to assist those in harm's way. From the Texas National Guard to the Louisiana Cajun Navy, to countless volunteers and citizens who have volunteered and contributed their time, their money, and their prayers, we saw across southeast Texas, in the immediate aftermath of that storm, nothing less than a model to which the whole Nation and world can aspire. I have even compared the rescue of so many Texans by boat to the miracle at Dunkirk. But when the storm passes, it is just as important that we look for lessons, demand accountability, and work to fix whatever went wrong or may have made this situation worse. I am pleased to offer this amendment today that will begin to address such an issue. When a hydropower station is licensed and regulated by FERC, it is not just the power plant that falls under Federal control. Decisions about lake levels, flood storage capacity, and other measurements of the body of water that powers that station are set forth in FERC license protocols and guidelines written and administered by folks who work right here in Washington. As a former official for the Texas Lower Neches Valley River Authority, I know that these are tough decisions to make, and sometimes it is a matter of choosing between bad and worse options of where to put all of that water. But in my district, serious concerns have been raised by my constituents and local river authorities about whether FERC's licenses for hydropower facilities need to be adjusted to account for the unprecedented flooding that we just experienced and with the ability to make commonsense changes in the face of an impending flood event. My amendment ensures that nothing will stand in the way of FERC going in and examining the licenses for any facility located in the path of the terrible disasters that we have seen this year. By passing it with strong bipartisan support, we will make clear that that is just what FERC should do. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and introduce someone who is now famous in Texas, Uncle Fred Upton, now that the Astros have won the World Series.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember WWII veteran, Leonard ``Lenny'' Swartz of Beaumont, TX who died peacefully in his own bed on October 30, 2017. Lenny was born on April 17, 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1930, the Great Depression forced the Swartz family to move to Atlantic City in hopes of a better living. After High School, Mr. Swartz moved back to Philadelphia until December of 1941. When WWII began for the United States, Lenny felt the call to serve his country and immediately enlisted in the United States Army. After graduating Officer's Candidate School in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina Lenny was next stationed at Camp Polk, in Deridder, Louisiana. While he was stationed at Camp Polk, Lenny took a trip to Beaumont, TX on leave and met a woman named Marie ``Mongie'' Eisen. In March of 1943, the two entered into a marriage that would last over 74 years. Mongie died just ten weeks ago in August. The couple lived in Deridder until Lenny was sent to Ft. Ord California for training before he boarded a ship headed to fight in the Pacific. Lenny was a captain in the 536th Amphibious Tank Battalion that played an important role in the Battle of Leyte Gulf that began the invasion of the Philippine Islands. It was while fighting during the invasion of Okinawa that Lenny was wounded badly and received his battlefield recognition. When the war ended, Lenny left the military as a Major and returned with Mongie to Beaumont. After working for his father-in-law in the produce business, Lenny opened his own produce business. Lenny was very active in the American Legion, Jewish War Veterans and the Masons. He always set an example for his sons and community by working hard every day and being active at his synagogue. After retiring, Lenny worked in his flower gardens around his home and watched his favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys. Mr. Swartz loved his family dearly and truly lived a life worth living. It is always an honor for me to recognize those American heroes who sacrificed so much defending and preserving our freedom in World War II. This truly was the greatest generation. We thank Mr. Swartz--as well as his entire family--for their bravery and sacrifice to our great nation.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 125th anniversary of the City of Deer Park, in Harris County, Texas. After an overwhelming Texian victory at Battle of San Jacinto, General Sam Houston, Interim President David G. Burnet, and members of the Texas Cabinet met in present-day Deer Park and began to draft the initial treaty documents securing Texas' independence from Mexico. Because of this historic event on Deer Park soil, Deer Park holds the distinction of being the true ``Birthplace of Texas.'' Deer Park was founded on December 20, 1892 by Simeon Henry West, a farmer, retired legislator, and pioneer from Illinois. He named the area Deer Park after the large number of deer that roamed the coastal prairie. As settlers from the north arrived to build homes and farms, West built a hotel and post office in 1893. West granted the land for the first railroad through Deer Park for one dollar and later built a wharf on Buffalo Bayou that was later destroyed by The Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900. On October 3, 1902, West donated the right-of-way to the Houston Ship Channel to the United States of America. In 1928 Shell Oil Company began building a new refinery. In the 1930s an independent school district was established, the population began to grow, and the town began to flourish. Deer Park voted to incorporate as a general law city on December 11, 1948. On December 6, 1960 the residents of Deer Park voted to become a home rule city. By 1960 the city's population was five thousand with a fire station, city hall, parks, independent water supply, and four major industries within the city limits. Today, Deer Park has approximately thirty-three thousand residents, a school district with fifteen campuses, numerous major industrial facilities, and several smaller light industrial companies. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to recognize and celebrate the 125th anniversary of the City of Deer Park. May God continue to bless Deer Park in these next 125 years.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank a great man for his military service, Captain Kellie S. Byerly, USN (Ret). Captain Byerly was born in Danville, Illinois on October 19, 1939. He began his prestigious twenty-seven-year Naval career in Long Beach, California. Captain Byerly served in numerous managerial positions on the USS John Paul Jones (DDG-32) and as Chief Engineer of the USS Decatur (DDG- 31). Captain Bylery later worked as a Professor of Naval Science at the State University of New York Maritime College. Captain Byerly held commands as: Executive Officer of the guided missile destroyers USS Hoel (DDG-13) and USS Robinson (DDG-12). He later served as Commodore of Task Force Sixty-Three in Naples, Italy. Captain Byerly concluded his Naval career as Senior Inspector for the Propulsion Examination Board in San Diego, California. Following his retirement from the United States Navy, Captain Byerly worked supervising operations in power plants around the world. He was hired by Stewart and Stevenson, an independent power company based in Houston as Vice President of Operations for the company's western region. He later served with General Electric as Vice President of Central American and Western United States regions. Captain Byerly concluded his career with the Calpine Corporation, as Vice President of Operations for the company's Central Region. Captain Byerly is married to Deborah L. Byerly who he met in Bremerton, Washington while his ship, the USS Robinson (DDG-12) was undergoing an overhaul. After retiring from the Navy, Captain and Mrs. Byerly became residents of Nassau Bay, Texas in 1991 and have enjoyed being part of the community ever since. Mrs. Byerly has worked for the NASA Johnson Space Center for over twenty years. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank Captain Kellie Byerly for his many years of selfless service to our great nation in the United States Navy.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Commander Seth Anthony Stone, a native Texan, a devout Christian, and a true American hero, who left us far too early on September 30, 2017, at the age of 41 years old. Twice the recipient of the Silver Star Medal, our Nation's third highest combat award, Seth was among the most highly decorated U.S. Navy SEALS. As a SEAL platoon commander in Iraq during the Battle of Ramadi in 2006, he served alongside my son, Leif Babin, as they led some of the toughest sustained urban combat operations in the history of the SEAL teams. Seth was a storied and an exceptional combat leader that helped turn the tide for America in two of the most pivotal battles of the Iraq war. Seth and his SEAL platoon played an integral role in the victorious efforts of the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division's Ready First Brigade Combat Team that transformed Ramadi from the most violent and dangerous place in Iraq to a stable, secure, and peaceful city. In more than 6 months of continuous urban combat, a number of his SEALs were wounded and killed in action, including Master-at-Arms Second Class Michael A. Monsoor, when he dove onto a grenade to save three of his SEAL teammates next to him. For his actions, Petty Officer Monsoor was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Seth returned to Iraq 2 years later and led a SEAL task unit that included American Sniper, Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle, also from Texas. Seth's outstanding combat record placed him in a very special class that included Petty Officer Michael Monsoor, Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle, Petty Officer Marc Lee, and Petty Officer Ryan Job. Seth epitomized the warrior ethos, risking his life on many occasions in combat against our Nation's mortal enemies. He saved countless U.S. servicemembers, and he helped bring stability to embattled regions of the world. About his military service, Seth said: It was my honor to fight for my country. The best life is one lived as a sacrifice for others. I love my country, and I love the teams. That is what drove me to fight so hard for America while wearing the SEAL Trident. At the same time, I did not really consider myself to be a SEAL but, rather, a soldier for the Lord. In everything he did and throughout his life he served the Lord from a place of deep faith. He was a very special person. I was proud to know him, and I will be forever grateful for his service to our great country and the friendship and camaraderie that he had with my son and all those whom he served with. While Seth has left us on Earth, his passion for his friends, his country, and his Lord will certainly live on and never be forgotten.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, as the father of 5 and the grandfather of 13, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, also known as Micah's Law, named after Micah Pickering. Micah was born prematurely at 22 weeks of age. In fact, the same age and exact stage of development that the current despicable policy permits for legal, on-demand abortion. After receiving intensive care in his infancy, Micah is now an active, healthy, and happy kindergartner. Micah is living proof that we need to pass H.R. 36. Congress needs to take this crucial step to ensure the protection of thousands of innocent lives every year, innocent lives just like precious Micah. The scientific evidence is overwhelming that, by at least 20 weeks of age, unborn babies can feel excruciating pain during typical abortion procedures. This is both cruel and inhumane. As Members of Congress, it is our duty and our moral obligation to pass this commonsense legislation. We must protect the most defenseless. Enough is enough. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical bill to protect the sanctity of every human life. God knows it is time.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend, Trent Franks, for yielding to me and for providing the leadership in the pro-life movement. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 36, the Pain- Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. As a proud father of 5 and a grandfather of 13, I firmly believe that the value of an unborn life cannot be understated. H.R. 36 takes a crucial step to ensure that we protect thousands of innocent lives every year. Scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that unborn babies feel pain by at least 20 weeks of age. By 20 weeks, an unborn baby is so developed that he or she can hear and respond to sounds. Ending these lives through abortion is both cruel and inhumane. There is no excuse. Our Nation must do better. We should not be one of only seven countries--including North Korea, Vietnam, and China--to have elective, on-demand abortion after 20 weeks of development. This is an abuse of the basic human rights, and it is unacceptable in the eyes of God and by any standard of human morality. As Members of Congress, it is our duty and our moral obligation to pass H.R. 36 so that we may protect those who are the most defenseless. Mr. Speaker, our Declaration of Independence guarantees all Americans enjoy the unalienable right of life, and that includes the unborn. Thanks to incredible advances in modern medicine, babies born at 20, 21, and 22 weeks of age are able to survive. Our medical community strives to save and protect these premature babies, yet, in an inconsistent fashion, current policy permits aborting a child at that exact same stage of development. Mr. Speaker, the sanctity of every human life must be protected. This bill affirms the humanity of the unborn while curbing the inhumanity of abortion. God knows that it is time that we hold abortionists who perform these late-term abortions accountable for their abhorrent actions.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Thank you very much for yielding. I would like to thank my colleague, Randy Weber, my neighbor. I represent the 36th District in Texas and he represents the 14th, and he also represents my hometown of Beaumont, Texas, for this Special Order. I really appreciate that. It was about a month ago that Hurricane Harvey began wreaking havoc on southeast Texas, dumping record amounts of rainfall across our region, upending the lives of thousands of families, businesses, and communities. Across our congressional district, the 36th District of Texas, we saw anywhere between 20 and 50 inches of rain, setting a new record for the United States. In fact, unofficially, ranchers in Liberty County, which I also represent, measured over 60 inches of rain. Our entire district, from Houston to the Louisiana border, turned into, essentially, one gigantic lake, as thousands of homes that had never flooded before succumbed to Harvey's floodwaters. The impact was devastating and widespread. No one was spared. People from all walks of life and socioeconomic situations, with the majority never having been displaced before, were baffled and desperate in their situations. Each of the nine counties that I have the privilege of representing have been declared Federal disaster areas. The devastation is simply overwhelming, and the vast lake now is a vast debris field. But in the midst of this devastation, there were, and still continue to be, incredible stories of goodness. Let me share just a few examples. In Orange, Texas, a young couple canceled their wedding to help their friends and neighbors clean up and begin the process of rebuilding. These newlyweds have now welcomed nearly a dozen family members into their nonflooded home. A volunteer fire department in Buna, Texas, became a big staging area, like many, many schools and volunteer fire departments all across this area. In Cleveland, a constable organized a flotilla of boats to deliver shelter and supplies. Dozens and dozens of churches immediately marshaled their congregations and good Christian people for food, supplies, and shelters to be delivered. In Deer Park, church members sprang into action immediately and began cooking and sharing meals with evacuees from Houston. In Silsbee, a church opened a community shelter after the county's only other shelter was cut off by floodwaters. In Rose City, a really good friend and neighbor rescued nearly everyone in his entire neighborhood on his airboat, even as his own home was flooded. His name was Dennis Landry. Since the flood, neighbors have organized mucking crews, where they help neighbors remove furniture, appliances, Sheetrock, carpets from one another's flooded homes. This has happened all across the Texas Gulf Coast, and the stories go on and on: neighbors helping neighbors, communities helping communities, strangers helping strangers. Churches, first responders, private citizens, businesses, people from out of State all around our district are helping one another. But that is what we do in east Texas. When times get tough, we pull together and we get to work. No one waits around to be told what to do. We are people of action, and we act when we see a need. And, quite frankly, this is what makes east Texas so special. Our communities are strong. And through our faith in God, we take care of one another in times of need regardless of our own means. It is our shared value for our fellow man that makes the difference. In that same east Texas spirit, our office has been doing everything possible that we can do to help. From the very start, we have been working overtime to help people get back on their feet. We are blessed with a professional and dedicated staff that is second to none. And despite some of our own staff being flooded themselves, we have worked tirelessly to help our east Texas neighbors and friends get the information and resources they need to recover and build. We are extremely grateful for their service, and I would like to personally recognize some of our staff: Lanie Brown, Lauren Jones, Rachel Iglesias, Sarah Blacksher, Beverly Ferguson, Will Carter, Jeannie Kranz, Joyce Morgan, Kelly Waterman, Beth Barber, Sarah Reese, Steve Janushkowsky, Lauren Ziegler. These individuals have spent the past month doing everything they can to help the people of District 36. These are often the unsung heroes who go the extra mile each and every day, and lately, on weekends and evenings, to serve the needs of our constituents. It has not gone unnoticed and is part of the incredible good that has come out of a tragic hurricane. We are extremely proud and very grateful to them and their families and everyone who has pitched in. I would also like to recognize our friends from Louisiana, and specifically my colleague, Congressman Garret Graves, and his staff, Paul Sawyer and David Cavell. Everywhere we went, we saw folks from Louisiana coming over and helping in the recovery, and we would tell them: Thank you so much. And we said: This is payback because of Katrina. Countless churches and individuals and neighbors from our neighboring State of Louisiana came out to help. Thank God for the Cajun Airlift, the Cajun Navy, the Cajun Special Forces, and the Cajun Gravy. And lastly, I would like to thank our first responders. The death toll would have been much higher if it had not been for these brave men and women. And for our game wardens, our police departments, our DPS officers, sheriff's deputies, all the way to our U.S. Coast Guard and Texas and other States' National Guardsmen, we thank you for everything that you did, and we remember those who gave their lives in the line of service. As we push forward, we have a long road ahead. People are still very much in need of assistance and resources as they work to put their lives back together. In fact, the fact that over 800 folks showed up for our Disaster Recovery Town Hall Meetings over the past several days demonstrates that there are still many in need. Last Thursday night in Lumberton, Texas, we had over 200 people come out. In Orange, Texas, we saw that 77 percent of all homes in that county were impacted. We had over 500 people come out to meet with FEMA, State officials, and my staff on a Friday night, and that is big, because that is football night in Texas. It is our goal to help folks cut through the bureaucracy and the red tape to get the answers and help that they need. We have been spreading staff out across our nine counties, setting up mobile offices to provide constituents with one-on-one assistance in applying for help and ensuring they have access to a computer or to complete the application. And this is not unusual. My colleagues and all of the other counties, up to 38 counties, I believe, were involved in this thing and have been doing the exact same thing. This will be a long road to our recovery, but together, we will recover, and we will rebuild and come back stronger than ever. Congressman Weber, I want to thank you, and God bless.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act. Remarkably, under current law, membership in a criminal street gang does not in and of itself make a non-citizen inadmissible or deportable from the United States. This common-sense bill corrects this dangerous loophole by requiring that criminal alien gang members be deported swiftly and never allowed back into the United States. It provides law enforcement with another tool in their arsenal to combat dangerous and deadly criminal gangs--like MS-13. Criminal gangs benefit from loopholes in our immigration laws and today we are taking an important step to close the door to the United States for non- citizen criminal gang members. Over the past 12 months, several thousand criminal aliens who were confirmed members of gangs were removed from the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This year ICE is continuing its focus on making our streets safer by removing criminal gang members with a particular focus on MS-13 members. It is past time that we strengthen our immigration laws, deport criminal aliens and secure our borders. We have a duty to make America safe for its citizens and H.R. 3697 is an important step in that direction.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor a beloved public servant, Marlan Waldrop. After a long and valiant battle with cancer, she is now at peace. Ms. Waldrop served for the last three years as the Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration, Houston Regional Office. As Director of the Houston Regional Office, Marlan was responsible for administering approximately two hundred nineteen million dollars each month in federal benefits to nearly eight hundred thousand veterans and their families living in ninety South Texas Counties, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Ms. Waldrop began her VA service in December 1990 as a Veterans Service Representative in the Education Division of the Atlanta Regional Processing Office. During her twenty-seven years of VA service, Marlan served in numerous leadership roles including: Instructor for the Challenge 2001 veteran service representative training, Assistant Deputy Director of the Tiger Team in Cleveland, Ohio (2004-2005), Louisville Veterans Service Center Manager (2005- 2007), Assistant Director of the Montgomery VA Regional Office (2007- 2011), and as Director of the San Juan VA Regional Office (2011-2014). Ms. Waldrop came to work for the VA because she needed a job, but found a career that allowed her to help improve the lives of our nation's veterans. She empowered her staff ``to do what is right for the veteran'' and to make the VA a welcoming place. She ensured that her outreach team was accessible to veterans beyond the walls of a VA facility. Marlan is survived by her son, Josh, six hundred sixty dedicated employees at the Houston VA Regional Office, and family and friends. On behalf of a grateful nation and the tens of thousands of veterans whose lives were better because of her work on their behalf, I rise to remember Ms. Waldrop and her many years of devoted service to our nation's veterans.

Mr. BABIN

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

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, in answer to my colleagues from Arkansas, I appreciate what they are saying. However, the truth is that there is a lot of confusion. This is a mandate. Many of us came to Congress to roll back these types of mandates and this type of regulatory bureaucracy, which stifles entrepreneurship and the creation of jobs. We are not trying to do away with this mandate. What we are trying to do is delay it so that we can adjudicate, study, and let people find out exactly how much it will cost because there are some disputes there. If you like your ELD, you can keep your ELD. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, I would answer that some of the companies with the worst safety records have had a full slate of ELDs in their fleet for many years. There is evidence absolutely to the contrary of what the gentleman just said. Also, the Obama administration, who signed this bill into law during a time when the House was Republican and the Senate was Democrat--the Department of Transportation estimates that the cost of compliance for this mandate is over $2 billion. That comes from the previous administration itself. So I would urge my colleagues to support this amendment and to give relief to the small businesses. Three out of four truckers are in favor of delaying the implementation of this mandate. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would delay the implementation and enforcement of the electronic logging device mandate, currently set to go into effect this December 18, until the end of the next fiscal year, September 30, 2018. But while this amendment is certainly about trucking, truckers, and the businesses and jobs that depend on them, I think it speaks to something more, something that all of us, who have the privilege of serving here in the people's House, are absolutely here to do. Reducing the regulatory burdens put in motion by previous administrations is one of our most important jobs here in Congress: to encourage entrepreneurship and create jobs in America. This ELD mandate is one such regulation. I am honored to stand with the independent truckers, our Nation's agriculture producers, and countless small businesses to offer this bipartisan amendment and fight on their behalf. More than 30 associations have endorsed this. Let's make something clear: my amendment will not ban ELDs, and it will not repeal the mandate from going into effect at a future date. All my amendment does is delay the mandatory requirement that almost every interstate hauling truck will have to pay for and install one of these devices by the end of this year. For those who have already installed an ELD and are satisfied with it, my message is simple: if you like your ELD, you can keep your ELD. While it is too late to use the Congressional Review Act on this regulation, it is not too late to act. Passage of this amendment and the underlying bill will set us on the course to protect small businesses and prevent a major disruption to the freight and shipping network just 1 week before this Christmas. To all of my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, I say thank you for section 132 of this bill, which already provides relief from the ELD mandate for livestock haulers. Please join me now to give relief to all American truckers. And to all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I say another year will give the President time to nominate and confirm a full-time Director of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, allow for waivers and exemptions to be examined and adjudicated, and alleviate the sticker shock for installation and compliance facing small trucking companies this December 18. We may disagree on many sorts of issues, but we will all go home on the weekend to districts where small businesses are the very backbone of our local communities and our economy. Let's give them a hand. Let's take another year and get this thing right. Mr. Chairman, I urge support for my amendment and the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to echo what everyone has said, especially my colleagues, Mr. Green and others, from Texas who have mentioned how we have pulled together. But I want to rise in strong support of this disaster relief funding for those who have been impacted by this terrible storm. My district is in Texas 36, and it was totally devastated. All nine counties have been declared Federal disaster areas. The entire district was underwater, a vast lake, from Houston over to the Louisiana border. The devastation is truly heartbreaking. I have traveled to each county and assisted in the recovery efforts, and I have met with the victims. H. Res. 502 provides desperately needed resources to help our fellow Americans put their lives back together again and provides a hand up, not a handout. Texans don't want a handout, but we do need the help and the hand up. In the midst of this devastation, the entire world has seen the resiliency, compassion, and determination of the people of Texas, and I am truly inspired by the incredible stories of goodness. We have had multiple disasters, especially in my district--multiple-- even three disaster declarations for some of my counties over the past 3 years. I have met and talked to some of my constituents who had just gotten back into their homes 2, 3 months ago from a flood that impacted us last year. One has told me she still had the price tags on their furniture when she woke up during the night to see water in her house. These are the kinds of things that we are seeing. But in the midst, as I have said, our churches, our first responders, our private citizens, businesses, people from out of State--and I want to especially commend the State of Louisiana, who came over and provided hundreds of boat teams for us--all around the district, people are helping one another. I just want to urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this very, very much-needed funding and showing our fellow Americans that we stand with them in this terrible, terrible time. I have been around a long time. I have seen storms--Hurricane Audrey in the 1950s--and this storm, Hurricane Harvey, I have never seen one like this before.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of Kate's Law and the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act. This Saturday, July 1, marks 2 years since the tragic death of 32- year-old Kate Steinle, who was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant who had seven prior felony convictions and who had also been deported five times. Kate's death is a clear reminder that we must do more to stop the abuse of our immigration laws by criminals who repeatedly flaunt the rule of law by illegally reentering the United States. Kate's Law puts in place new guidelines for stiffer penalties for criminal aliens who continue to reenter the United States illegally. Kate's Law is desperately needed to protect the residents of the State of Texas. Nicodemo Coria-Gonzalez--who had been deported five times to Mexico for crimes, including three DWIs--reentered the United States illegally and was charged with committing multiple sexual assaults and kidnapped a woman solely for the purpose of setting her on fire. Current policy enables criminals to roam American streets--no matter where they come from--with little fear of arrest and deportation. Kate's Law imposes stronger consequences and is an important step in restoring law and order. It will protect American lives. Sadly, there are local and State officials in our great Nation who put the interests of criminal aliens before the safety of American citizens. These officials should take the time to meet with the families of the many victims of these criminal aliens, like I have. They will see the resulting tragedy of sanctuary city policies. To rein in such States and localities, we need to pass the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, which will impose consequences on State and local jurisdictions that ignore Federal immigration law by refusing to work with Federal immigration officials to remove criminal aliens from the United States. In the first month of the Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued over 3,000 detainers. These are orders for local authorities to keep criminal aliens in custody for 48 hours to enable ICE agents to come and get them for deportation. Remarkably, 206 of these detainers were declined by sanctuary city jurisdictions. In other words, local authorities deliberately ignored ICE's detainer request and released these dangerous individuals onto American streets. These weren't just petty criminals, folks. Their crimes included homicide, rape, assault, domestic violence, indecent exposure to a minor, sex offenses against a minor, aggravated assault with a weapon, vehicle theft, kidnapping, driving under the influence, hit and run, and sexual assault. Passing the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act is common sense, as it cuts off certain Federal Department of Justice grants to these sanctuary cities. Our bill redirects these funds to States and localities that are cooperating with Federal immigration authorities and making America safer. The message of this legislation is clear: American taxpayers are tired of footing the bill for States and localities that threaten their safety. Criminal aliens with final deportation orders make up more than 50 percent of foreign-born inmates sitting in our prisons right now. Our streets will be made safer by deporting these criminal aliens, rather than letting them loose onto American streets. Local law enforcement officials should work with Federal law enforcement agencies to keep criminals out of our country and off of these streets. This is why we must pass Kate's Law and the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act to prevent other deaths like Kate Steinle's. I am proud to support these two commonsense, law and order bills, and strongly urge my House colleagues to vote in favor of them today.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 310.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Deer Park High School Deer for winning the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) 6A Baseball State Championship. The Deer accumulated a record of 35-8 on the way to the state title with playoff wins against: Summer Creek, Pearland, Clear Springs, Ridge Point, Fort Bend Travis, and Southlake Carroll. This is the first baseball championship for Deer Park and the fourth time the school has made it to the state tournament. On June 10, 2017, the Deer dispatched San Antonio Reagan in the championship game by a score of 7-2 at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock. Four players were named to the All-Tournament Team: Clay Aguilar, Chase Keng, Blake Martin, and Adrian Gonzales who was named Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP). 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 student and their coaches. Players: Mark Barrow, Connor Berry, Tyler Stenberg, Blaine Holden, Reece Moon, Jacobe Martinez, Clay Aguilar, Chase Keng, Christian Vela, Dylan Pullig, Josiah Ortiz, Austin Mitchell, Taylor Lee, Connor Williams, Jordan Phillips, JT Satterwhite, Peyton Sherlin, Chase Duncan, Adrian Gonzales, Blake Martin, and Kolton Fowler. Head Coach: Chris Rupp. Assistant Coaches: Donnie Elliott, Darren Schneider, Austin Yager, Jacob Rhame, and David White. Athletic Trainers: Jim Davidson, Lori Mahan, and David Viaclovsky. Managers: Gabby Gallegos and McKade Whittington. Student Trainer: Zachary Domingue. I wish each one of them continued success on and off the baseball field. Go Deer!

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Juneteenth. On June 19 (Juneteenth), 1865, Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston Island and issued General Order Number 3 which read, ``the people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.'' With this action the last American slaves, nearly 250,000 Texans, were freed two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Early Juneteenth celebrations were political rallies to teach freed African Americans about their freedoms, including voting rights. Over the years Juneteenth is celebrated at a wide variety of public events, prayer services, ceremonies, family gatherings, parades, barbecues, rodeos, and sporting events. Modern Juneteenth celebrations encourage self-development and respect for all cultures. Today, Juneteenth remains the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery. In 1979 Governor William ``Bill'' Clements, Jr. signed legislation declaring Juneteenth as a state holiday. By 2016 forty-five of the fifty states in the Union have followed suit recognizing Juneteenth as either a state holiday, ceremonial day, or day of observance. Mr. Speaker I rise, with my fellow Texans, to celebrate Juneteenth in the United States House of Representatives.