Brian Babin

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, this Nation was founded by those seeking to escape the coercive forces of governments across Europe. This basic freedom is under assault today as radical advocates for abortion are using the coercive forces of Federal, State, and local governments to compel pro-life individuals, businesses, and healthcare providers, to act against their deeply held religious convictions in order to keep a job or to hold a medical license or to operate a hospital, clinic or health insurance plan. No one should be forced to violate their deeply held convictions against taking innocent lives. Yet, the Obama administration has simply refused to enforce the current conscience law, most recently in California. With the passage of our bill, pro-life Americans will no longer be forced to appeal to this administration for relief. This bill will enable Americans to file suit in court and, once and for all, end this coercion. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this very important legislation so that the rights of pro-life Americans are restored.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, sadly, insanity is the only word that I can use to describe the foolishness of the Obama-Clinton-Kerry engagement with the Islamic Republic of Iran. In January, the Obama administration cut a $1.7 billion check to the Government of Iran. On May 18, Iran's Guardian Council voted to send all of this money to Iran's military. Secretary of State Kerry was asked in January whether this money would be used to fund terrorism. He responded: I think that some of it will wind up in the hands of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps or other entities, some of which are labeled terrorists. This week, we can sadly confirm that this has indeed come to pass, that the entire $1.7 billion from the U.S. taxpayers will now be used to fund Iran's military and terrorism apparatus. This is the same Iran that routinely chants ``Death to America,'' threatens to wipe Israel off of the map, captures and humiliates our U.S. sailors, and brazenly fires missiles in close proximity to America's naval vessels, and is responsible for the killing of hundreds of American troops. Madam Speaker, this is utter foolishness, and these policies must end.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and sacrifice of Paul Goins and five of his brave team members who lost their lives in support of America's mission overseas. Paul's path was defined by an abiding desire to serve his country and seek out opportunities to drive positive change--he answered this call his entire life. After serving in the United States Marines, Paul worked with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the private sector before serving his country at the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan. On February 10, 2014, Paul (Goins was training and equipping allies of the International Military Coalition in Kabul when he was killed in an explosion. My prayers and condolences go out to Paul's family; his children, grandchildren and his loving wife. I also honor five other members of Paul's team who were called abroad and gave the ultimate sacrifice as they worked to make the world a safer place. These six recipients of the Purple Star receive an honor of the upmost distinction for making the ultimate sacrifice while helping the United States of America accomplish vital security and foreign policy objectives across the globe.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the floor of the United States House of Representatives to acknowledge a group of inspiring young men and women--the 56 members of Deweyville High school's graduating class of 2016. From March 11 to March 28, 2016, Deweyville, Texas, was subjected to unprecedented rains and destructive flooding in which more than half of the student community lost everything. In the face of this cataclysm, Deweyville's Senior Class of 2016 took selfless action to alleviate the suffering within their community, and strengthen the recovery effort. These seniors helped collect, distribute, and serve food to others across their community. They worked hard to relocate Deweyville elementary school equipment away from the flooding and served as guides for disaster relief personnel. And, after their community suffered the loss of their elementary school, Deweyville High School students set aside their own convenience and opened up their high school facilities to the elementary school students. Mr. Speaker, the 2016 Deweyville High School graduating seniors are to be acknowledged and celebrated as paragons of servant leadership. Students across the United States can learn from their example. I want to take this time to personally commend each and every one of the 2016 graduates of Deweyville High School, both for their academic achievement and for the hundreds of hours they labored to protect and restore their community and the 36th District of Texas. You have my sincere gratitude and my thanks; Torianna Elizabeth Allard, Alahna Nichole Apodaca, Caleb Jordan Bass, Charlotte Christine Bates, Danna Marie Beecher, Jeridan David Brooks, Samantha Carol Burch, Dakota Cliff Buxton, Benjamin Brock Carpenter, Trent Michael Carpenter, Sarah Kathryn Carter, Kylie Zale Chance, Jillian Marie Davis, Spencer Allen Davis, Mallory Ruth Dotson, Shaylin Nicole Dupuy, Trent David Forse, Abigail Grace Gentz, Timothy Michael Gibbon, Triston Riley Gordon, Tiffanie Skylar Green, Mallory Rene Hand, Nolan Todd Haney, Kayla Nicole Hanks, Hope Isabella Hardin, Jared Shayne Hendrix, Jimmy Dale Hendrix, Mitchell Kyler Henson, Thomas Ryan Henson, Josey Myranda Hutto, Kobe Allen Jernigan, Brett Ryan Ladner, Ryan Russell Lee, Dalton Patrick Marsh, Megan Ashley Mathis, Taylar Michelle May, Taylor Elise McKay, Callie Jordan Nelms, Skylar Lee Nichols, Trey Allen Nicholson, Steven Brac Parkhurst, Dakota Taylor Pelt, Blaze Dean Rainwater, Jason Don Reider, Lindsey Renee Schaffer, Cherry Faye Seaman, Naomi Brianne Sims, Melynda Leanne Sizemore, Victoria Brooke Spell, Kaleb Gene Stephenson, Dylan Scott Talbert, Layne Ray Verdine, Aaron Walter Webb, Michael Montgomery Williams, Ryan Duane Williams, Zachary Taylor Wood. Congratulations to each of you and thank you for your commitment to serving others. I wish each of you the best in your future endeavors.

Mr. BABIN

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

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of my amendment to prohibit any contracts or Federal assistance to the Islamic Republic of Iran from being funded in this Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. As a result of this recent nuclear deal, Iran is now cleared to receive up to $150 billion in assets that should have never made its way back to the Ayatollahs. Iran is the world's leading State sponsor of terrorism. Any dollar sent to Iran's government is a dollar sent to a brutal, apocalyptic, and dangerous regime that routinely flouts international norms, threatens to wipe Israel off the map, captures and humiliates our U.S. sailors, flagrantly violating Geneva Convention rules, and is responsible for the murders of hundreds of United States soldiers. Passage of this amendment will wipe the slate clean of any potential for money from the hardworking taxpayers in my district and from across the United States of America to go to Iran. No money for contracts to buy their heavy water, no money for their so-called civilian nuclear power program. Let's not get fooled again like we did with North Korea. The Iran deal was only given an ``aye'' vote by 162 Members of this House--a very small total. The President may have lifted the sanctions that Congress passed in 2010, but there is no reason that we cannot take this step to show Iran and the world that we are serious about putting them back in place for their flagrant violations. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``yes'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Fairview Baptist Church, and the 160 years of spiritual guidance and service to the community of Town Bluff. It is with great joy that we celebrate the 160th anniversary of the Fairview Baptist Church. The Fairview Baptist Church opened in 1856 with just about 40 parishioners under the Reverend J. G. Masterson. It is in these early days that the Church also served as a schoolhouse for the children of Town Bluff. Fairview Baptist continued to expand into new buildings over the years, with the present building having broken ground in 1968. Brother Scott Loar continues to preside over a growing church and vibrant congregation. May God continue to bless the Fairview Baptist Church and the entire congregation.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, the Obama administration's foolish nuclear deal with Iran continues to get more troubling and damaging by the day. Last week, we found out that the administration was spending $8.6 million of our hard-earned tax dollars to buy nuclear material from Iran. That is right: the United States Government is borrowing money from China and the rest of the world to buy heavy water from Iran, water used in nuclear reactors. This is insanely foolish. I thought that the goal of Obama's nuclear deal was to stop Iran's nuclear program, not subsidize it. Iran remains the world's leading sponsor of terrorism. They have been directly tied to the deaths of thousands of U.S. servicemembers. Providing the Iranian regime with millions of tax dollars only gives them new financing to spread hateful ideology, terror, and death across the globe. The Obama administration's payments to this terrorist regime further legitimize their growing nuclear ambitions. Is it any wonder that our allies no longer consider the United States a reliable partner? Appeasement only emboldens bullies, terrorists, and dictators. Sadly, this is the path that this current administration has chosen.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, as a proud original cosponsor of H.R. 699, the Email Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), I am pleased to rise in full support of this bill on the House floor. Since being introduced on February 4, 2015, we have been able to secure more than 300 cosponsors of this important bill, which will improve privacy protections for the email communications of ordinary American citizens. Under current law there is little protection for the content of electronic communications stored or maintained by third party service providers. ECPA corrects this oversight and updates our laws to require a court ordered warrant that is based on probable cause before an email service provider can disclose these private communications. In the current era where individual privacy is often overlooked or sidelined, this bill takes an important step to protect your privacy. It is long past due that we update our privacy laws to give emails--a major means of communication today--the same protection as traditional mail and telephone calls. This bill has been endorsed by a broad range of privacy groups, including such conservative organizations as the Heritage Foundation and FreedomWorks. Our bill modernizes these outdated statutes to ensure that the rights protected by the Fourth Amendment extend to Americans' email correspondence and digital data.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Beach City, in Chambers County, Texas. Located between Trinity Bay and San Jacinto River, Beach City sits about eight miles southeast of Baytown, in western Chambers County. Through the 1800s this area was host to a number of bayside settlements and camps, and many scenes from the struggle for Texas independence. In March 1836, following the fall of the Alamo and massacre at Goliad, Gen. Sam Houston ordered a retreat known as The Runaway Scrape. On the way to join up with the fleeing Texian Army, the famed Twin Sisters cannons passed through present-day Beach City, just in time to provide Gen. Houston with the firepower necessary to defeat the Mexican Army, and secure Texas' independence at the Battle of San Jacinto. By the 1960s, facing possible annexation by nearby Baytown, Beach City residents overwhelmingly voted to incorporate. On April 11, 1966, Beach City's nearly 500 permanent residents officially incorporated. Newly established, Beach City had its first election on May 21, 1966, where the people chose Eloice Jordan to serve as their first mayor. Billy Combs currently serves as the 11th mayor of Beach City, a position he has held since 2010. It is my distinct honor to recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Beach City. May God bless Beach City even more richly in these next 50 years.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, the American people are fed up with the IRS and rightfully so. With such a troubled and incompetent record, it is hard to imagine how anyone could trust this corrupt agency. This week the House will take action, thanks in large part to my friend and colleague from Missouri (Mr. Smith). We will pass a series of bills to rein in the IRS and bring much-needed accountability to this broken and dysfunctional agency. We will take steps to end the politicization of the IRS, which has illegally and intentionally targeted conservative Americans. We will vote to eliminate the IRS slush fund--and I call it a slush fund--that has allowed this agency to skirt congressional authority. We will vote to make sure that IRS employees are held to the same standards as the taxpayers by firing those who are delinquent in their own taxes. These are commonsense steps that need to be taken, but we cannot truly solve these problems and bring real change to the Internal Revenue Service under the current leadership of Commissioner John Koskinen. Mr. Koskinen has blatantly lied under oath and misled congressional investigators. He has supported Lois Lerner's track record of deceit and obstruction. It is time for him to go. As a cosponsor of legislation to impeach Commissioner Koskinen, I call on congressional leaders to bring that bill forward as well. American taxpayers deserve much better than they are getting, and we need to turn the page on Mr. Koskinen's failed leadership.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievements of the Mendoza Debate Society at Lee College, in Baytown, Texas. On April 4, 2016, the Debate Team won their third consecutive Community College National Championship in the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) National Championship Tournament. Led by Director of Forensics, Joe Ganakos, the Mendoza Debate Society has become the top-ranked IPDA debate program in Texas for 2015-2016. The debaters achieved this incredible success through their unmatched work ethic and countless hours of practice. I extend my congratulations to all the members of the Mendoza Debate Society, captained by Kyle Diamond and Rigo Ruiz--and I wish them all continued success in their future endeavors.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 14 and Tuesday, March 15, I was unavoidably detained in my Congressional district. As a result, I missed the following recorded votes: On roll call Number 111, passage of S. 2426, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On roll call Number 112, passage of House Concurrent Resolution 75. As a cosponsor, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On roll call Number 113, passage of House Concurrent Resolution 121. As a strong supporter, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' I am pleased that my colleagues in the House voted unanimously to condemn those who commit genocide against Christians, and call these actions exactly what they are, war crimes. It is my sincere desire that both houses of Congress and the President would speak and act with a unified voice against the atrocities that are being committed against Christians in the Middle East by the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations on a daily basis. On roll call Number 114, ordering the previous question of House Resolution 640, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On roll call Number 115, agreeing to House Resolution 640, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On roll call Number 116, passage of H.R. 2081, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On roll call Number 117, passage of H.R. 3447, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.'' On roll call Number 118, adoption of an amendment to H.R. 3797, had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' On roll call Number 119, adoption of an amendment to H.R. 3797, had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' On roll call Number 120, adoption of an amendment to H.R. 3797, had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' On roll call Number 121, adoption of an amendment to H.R. 3797, had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' On roll call Number 122, motion to recommit H.R. 3797 with instructions, had I been present I would have voted ``no.'' On roll call Number 123, passage of H.R. 3797, had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great man, and an icon of our Houston community, retired Harris County Precinct 8 Constable Bill Bailey. Bill Bailey has been the voice of RodeoHouston for the past three decades. He has brought unparalleled enthusiasm and depth of expertise to his craft, honed by years of experience. Bill has been involved with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for over 50 years, where he serves as both a board member and a lifetime vice president. Bill's iconic voice and announcing talent were honed by an equally prodigious career in broadcast radio, which saw Bill inducted into the Country Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2010. Through the medium of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Bill Bailey has also been instrumental in raising millions of dollars for educational scholarships to benefit Texas area youth and to enrich countless other worthy causes across Southeast Texas. Let me extend my most hearty congratulations to Bill Bailey as he retires from RodeoHouston and turns the page on another chapter in his storied life.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 83 and 84, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote No. 83 (H.R. 4408) and rollcall vote No. 84 (H.R. 4402). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on both missed votes.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Baytown Mexican School for its distinction as an Official Texas Historical marker. The Baytown Mexican School was founded in 1923 with the mission of teaching and nurturing Mexican-American children as they transitioned to English. The school, which was staffed by local students from Robert E. Lee High School, taught Mexican-American children until its closing in 1969. In 1992, a new school was built as the successor to the Baytown Mexican School. Although the original three room schoolhouse has since been demolished, the dedication of this historical site will serve as an appropriate and lasting tribute to the Baytown Mexican School.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3293, the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act. The National Science Foundation spends $7 billion in taxpayer funds, most of which goes to important research that helps advance America's competitive edge. However, the NSF has funded far too many wasteful projects that are not in the national interest. Here are several examples: $1.5 million to study pasture management in Mongolia; $147,000 to study international marriages between the citizens of France and Madagascar; $20,000 to study stress among the people of Bolivia. While the NSF has begun to implement some new internal policies that are intended to increase transparency and accountability, this bill will help strengthen those reforms and make them permanent. The Director of the NSF even testified before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee that the policy of H.R. 3293 is ``compatible with the NSF's internal guidelines.'' I highly commend Chairman Lamar Smith for his leadership on this important bill, and I encourage my colleagues to very much support it.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I feel compelled to give voice to the millions of Americans who continue to be dumbfounded and frustrated by this administration's handling of Iran. Shortly before President Obama's final State of the Union address, news broke that 10 U.S. sailors had been captured by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Remarkably, the President did not even mention our sailors in his speech while TVs across the world became littered with pictures of our sailors on their knees at gunpoint. Even worse, Iran's Supreme Leader celebrated this incident last week by awarding medals to those Iranians who captured the intruding Americans. Once the situation was resolved, Secretary Kerry had the audacity to actually thank the Iranians, and Mr. Obama then released billions of dollars in sanctions to the Iranians. This is yet another embarrassing episode of weakness and capitulation that only serves to embolden our enemies and increase the likelihood of further conflict. It is time that this administration set aside what I would characterize as disdain for our military and, instead, defend our servicemembers with the passion and respect that they have earned and deserve.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Michael Hoke. Michael passed away on January 13, 2016, at the age of 67. Michael was an active and accomplished educator in the Orange community. After receiving his doctorate, he went on to start the Orange chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, and continued to be a leading advocate for teachers within the community. His dedication and expertise were recognized in 1989 when he became the Texas recipient of the National Science Foundation's Presidential Award. Michael later went on to instruct at Harvard University. Michael was committed to sharing his incredible love and mastery of scientific teaching with the community and future generations. He founded ``Science Superstars'' to engage children and encourage a passion for learning, and ``Bios, a School on Wheels'' to help students explore various scientific research centers and programs across Texas. Under his leadership, these educational programs have now spread across the nation. Michael was also a faithful Christian, and attended the First United Methodist Church in Orange. My prayers and condolences go out to Michael's loving wife, Sandra, his daughter Julia, and his son Robert, and his two grandchildren. Michael will be sorely missed in our community, but his passion and legacy will certainly live on.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, for months Americans have been demanding stronger FBI background checks on Syrian and Middle Eastern refugees entering the United States, and just yesterday an ISIS-affiliated Syrian refugee was arrested in Houston, Texas. Rather than taking action to address these national security vulnerabilities, President Obama shockingly believes that it is more important to increase FBI background checks on law-abiding American citizens. This additional round of unconstitutional executive action is a new low for this administration. Their overreach on guns and law-abiding Americans shows how truly misplaced their priorities are. Sadly, it only confirms what we have already come to learn, that this is a failed President with a very distorted sense of the real world. Mr. Speaker, putting the safety and security of the American people first means ending this administration's refusal to secure our borders, refusal to respect the right of law-abiding Americans to exercise their First and Second Amendment rights, and refusal to enhance background checks on immigrants and refugees from the safe havens of terrorism.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today in memory of the 43rd anniversary of the Supreme Court's tragic decision in Roe v. Wade. Since Roe v. Wade, we have lost 57 million innocent lives. May God rest their souls. That is an astounding and absolutely heart-numbing loss. Countless lives have been impacted by abortion. Each one of those 57 million children had a future destroyed by abortion. Even Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff known as Roe, revealed in 1995 that she had, in fact, become pro-life and is now a vocal opponent of abortion and the abortion industry. Mr. Speaker, the sanctity of human life must be protected. We have a duty to protect the lives of all Americans, especially the most helpless and innocent of all, the unborn. I stand with the thousands of Americans who will soon gather on The Washington Mall to serve as the voice of 57 million unborn babies whose lives were tragically taken through abortion.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the West Orange- Stark Mustangs for winning their third state title in school history on December 18, 2015 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. This is no easy task, especially in Texas. It is a testament to the incredible resiliency, passion, commitment and hard work displayed by these young men. I would like to personally recognize each one of them and their coaches by entering their names into the Congressional Record. I would also like to wish each one of them continued success on and off the football field. Players: Keyshawn Holman, Jackson Dallas, Kentavious Miller, Dominic Tezeno, Justin Brown, Malick Phillips, Mandel Turner-King, Payton Robertson, Malacci Hodge, Jarron Morris, Kaleb Ramsey, Ronald Carter, Melech Edwards, Jeremiah Shaw, Quinton Chargois, Jay'len Mathews, Tokeba Hughey, Keion Hancock, Ja'Vonn Ross, Torrien Burnett, Aric Cormier, Demorris Thibodeaux, Tyshon Watkins, Jamarcus Joulevette, Ryan Baham-Heisser, Cory Skinner, Jr., Steven Tims, Ryan Ragsdale, Tristen Scott, Jalen Powdrill, Te'Ron Brown, Paul Ivory, Morris Joseph, Bobby Rash, Keddric Gant, Rashaad Carter, Ja'Qualan Coleman, Ledarian Carter, Rufus Joseph, Jr., Thomas Wallace and Blake Robinson. Athletic Director/Head Coach: Cornel Thompson; Defensive Coordinator: Mike Pierce; Offensive Coordinator: Ed Dyer; Assistant Coaches: Del Basinger, Terry Joe Ramsey, Joseph Viator, Jacoby Franks and Stephen Westbrook, Randy Ragsdale, Shea Landry; Athletic Trainer: Shannon Scott; Student Trainers: Cruz Hernandez, Chad Dallas, Cassidy Wright and Jared Dupree. Go Mustangs.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, President Obama is up to it again with his pen and phone. This time he is undermining the Second Amendment rights of American citizens through executive order. President Obama's disdain for gun owners has been clear from the beginning. This is another sad chapter in his Presidency. It is a shame the President would exploit the latest act of terrorism in this manner. The murders of Americans in San Bernardino were due to a radical Islamic ideology, an ideology that this President will not even acknowledge, though these people have declared war upon us, and nothing this President is doing through his unilateral action will address that. It will only serve to hurt law-abiding American citizens. President Obama is shooting at the wrong target. We are a constitutional republic. The President cannot simply bypass Congress when his ill-advised initiatives are rejected. The President should join Congress in focusing on the growing threat of terrorism rather than making it easier to disarm law-abiding American citizens. We should do all in our power to stop this unconstitutional executive action and overreach.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in using the power of the purse to stop the reckless policies of President Obama that leave the citizens of the United States vulnerable. Americans overwhelmingly support this. The FBI, DNI, and DHS have testified that they cannot fully screen the thousands of refugees that the President wants to bring in from Syria, Somalia, Iraq, and other regions with high rates of terrorism. Illegal immigrants from Syria, Libya, Somalia, and other hotbeds of terrorism continue to test the openness of our southern border. The loopholes in the screening of immigrants from hotbeds of terrorism are being exploited, and the administration opposes closing them. This House has one chance, the end of the year appropriations bill, to end these dangerous policies. This Member of Congress will vote against any bill rushed to the floor that fails to stop these reckless policies. Let's put aside political correctness, criticism from foreign nationals that leave Americans vulnerable. This is our chance to stop future San Bernardinos, Parises, Chattanoogas, Garlands, and Ft. Hoods. The lives of these American citizens are worth it. Indeed, they cry out for it.

Mr. BABIN

Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today with strong concerns over President Obama attempting to unilaterally bypass Congress once again and enter the United States into the so-called ``Paris Protocol'' on global warming. As the proud Representative of the 36th Congressional District in the State of Texas, I can tell you that my constituents want nothing to do with this expensive, ineffective, and unnecessary proposal. According to the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, the Paris Protocol will reduce U.S. gross domestic product by an average of 9.1 percent, or $5 trillion per year. And consistent with this, NERA Economic Consulting states this will cost U.S. taxpayers approximately more than $30 billion per year. Aside from the constitutional issues of the President bypassing the Senate and not submitting this proposal as a treaty, and the outrageous costs, these negotiations will not even accomplish their end goal of substantial climate benefits. A U.S. pledge to the U.N. is estimated to prevent only one-fiftieth of 1 degree Celsius temperature rise over the next 85 years. Simply put, our planet will see no measurable benefit at all, but our economy will be wrecked by this accord. This is just another example of the terrible leadership that we have seen from this administration and of the important role that Congress must play in standing up and fighting back on behalf of the American people.