Ken Buck

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying legislation. The rule provides 1 hour of debate and makes in order all amendments offered at the Rules Committee. I want to note that not one amendment to this rule or to this bill was offered by the Democrats. Mr. Speaker, the Micro Offering Safe Harbor Act is an important step toward helping small businesses grow across our country. Small businesses aren't just about selling a product or providing a service. Entrepreneurs take the risk for a chance to improve their community and their family's livelihood. These individuals employ our friends and families and improve our quality of life. Congress needs to do what we can to help entrepreneurs succeed. Young businesses need to use their limited capital, time, and resources to grow their business, not fill out bureaucratic paperwork. This problem has only grown worse since Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010. When Dodd-Frank passed, Congress promised it would protect consumers. But it has only hurt community banks, small businesses, and the middle class. Dodd-Frank's burdensome regulatory regime has caused community banks to disappear across America, making access to capital more difficult for many small businesses. The House passed the Financial CHOICE Act to repeal and replace Dodd- Frank, but it currently sits untouched in the United States Senate. I hope they will quickly vote to repeal Dodd-Frank and make credit easier to access for Main Street. But there is more we can do in the people's House to help create new jobs and opportunities. All too often the Federal Government creates regulations that disproportionately hurt small businesses. While a large corporation may have a team of lawyers to comply with these rules, this is rarely the case for a young business. That is why I support this bill. This bill ends ambiguity in the law by clearly defining a nonpublic offering exemption under the Securities Act. Currently, companies just starting out risk unintentionally violating these laws, which might discourage them from seeking the capital they need to grow. It is common sense to ensure our country's laws are clear and to allow small businesses to operate without fear of accidentally violating the law. Our economy depends on small businesses and those who put everything on the line to pursue the American Dream. This bill will benefit all of us by helping those individuals grow their businesses and create jobs in their communities. In order to help our small businesses grow and create jobs, we need to pass this rule and pass the underlying bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Iowa for his thoughts. Mr. Speaker, when we learned that Planned Parenthood was selling the tissue of unborn children, America was outraged. Since then, the House has redoubled its effort to pass legislation to protect the unborn. H.R. 7 and H.R. 36 are two important pro-life measures that have passed the House. H.R. 36, which would prevent the killing of unborn children who are developed enough to feel pain, passed the House by 237 votes. This legislation has been sitting in the Senate for 31 days. H.R. 7, which prohibits taxpayer funding for abortion, passed the House by 238 votes. This legislation has been sitting in the Senate for 283 days. I would like to welcome my friend and colleague from Georgia, Representative Jody Hice, to talk about these two important bills and protecting unborn children. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his hard work and persistence on this very important issue. Mr. Speaker, this year, the House completed all 12 appropriations bills. It is the first time in decades that that has happened. I am proud that our Chamber worked hard to return to a regular appropriations process, and I can tell you that there were many late nights spent looking through amendment after amendment both in the Rules Committee hearing room and on the House floor. We thoughtfully considered these bills and offered them for votes on the House floor. But the Senate hasn't approved any of these 12 bills. Not one. Republicans, month by month, crisis to crisis, were appropriating of the Obama administration era. But now Republicans are in charge, and without Senate action, we are staring down the barrel of another omnibus or continuing resolution. This isn't fair to the American public. The Founders gave to Congress the power of the purse so that 435 men and women in this Chamber and 100 men and women in the Senate Chamber can spend weeks at a time thoughtfully discerning how to spend taxpayer dollars. That is our job. The House has finished its work for this year, and now we beg the Senate to finish theirs. The House has done good work. We have listened to our constituents, worked with our stakeholders, and met each other in the middle on many bills. Now we are left just talking about these great bills because they are all stuck in the Senate. I want to take a minute in closing to remind the Senate why we are here and why the voters offered the Republican Party control of both Chambers and the House. We are here because Americans want fewer regulations. We are here because Americans want lower healthcare premiums and costs. We are here because Americans want a stronger stance against the world's bullies. We are here because Americans want a respect for the rule of law. We are here because Americans want our veterans to have the best care. We are here because Americans want better access to credit. They want to protect unborn life. We are here because Americans expect us to improve their lives, to work on meaningful legislation that limits government, that stewards taxpayer dollars effectively, and that guards family values. Americans should know that the House of Representatives has heard them. We have passed bills to address these concerns. Now we turn to the Senate and ask them to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to recognize several distinguished Members of the House for the next hour. When our constituents show up on the first Tuesday in November to exercise their right of self-governance, they carry with them the dreams of a better Republic. In 2016, the American people commissioned us with a task. They asked us to fight for jobs. They asked us to fight to fix healthcare. They asked us to roll back regulations. They asked us to secure the free world. They asked us to secure our own borders. The House of Representatives heard them. We have been busy developing and passing legislation that meaningfully improves the lives of Americans. I commend the Speaker and his leadership in moving these bills through the House. Unfortunately, much of the House's important work is stalled in the U.S. Senate. It is time the Senate pass important legislation and restore trust in our Republic, because before this week, the House had sent 308 bills to the Senate that are still stalled in that Chamber. This is more than any of the previous four Presidential administrations had stalled at this same time in their first year. For the record, the House of Representatives in the 115th Congress has also passed more total bills than Houses in any of the last four Presidential administrations at this point. We are at 394 total bills passed. The dreams of this great Republic cannot be realized by the House alone. The Senate must hear the people and come together around the often bipartisan measures we have been sending to them. As a way of reminding the Senate, I would like to spend the next hour recognizing Members to discuss some of the important bills passed by the House of Representatives that now sit motionless in the U.S. Senate. I am thankful for my colleagues who are joining me this evening to talk about the House's successful legislative efforts. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) to talk about the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, H.R. 3003.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, a fellow prosecutor and a passionate advocate for these issues, for his remarks. Mr. Speaker, in the summer of 2015, 32-year-old Kate Steinle was gunned down by an illegal immigrant who had been deported five times already. Kate's Law, introduced by Chairman Bob Goodlatte, would enhance the penalties on illegal immigrant felons who are deported and then returned unlawfully to the United States. This legislation passed the House with 257 votes, a bipartisan coalition of Members who simply want to keep violent felons out of the United States. This bill has been stuck in the Senate for 127 days. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend and colleague, Representative Andy Biggs, to talk about H.R. 3004, Kate's Law, and the importance of securing our Nation from violent illegal felons.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Arizona, especially with his healthcare background. I know he has said on many occasions that he is a dentist impersonating a Congressman. Right now I feel the same way as a prosecutor impersonating a Congressman, and I appreciate his friendship and great insight. Mr. Speaker, I would like to now invite my friend and colleague, Representative Ted Poe, to speak about the Email Privacy Act. This legislation clears up a loophole in the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, or ECPA, that allows the government, after a certain amount of time, to search someone's email if it is held on a third- party server. The ECPA was passed in 1986. For the past 30 years, our technology has drastically advanced, but our electronic communications policy has been stuck in the 1980s. The Email Privacy Act allows the law to catch up with the tech. This bill simply requires the government to have a warrant if they are going to search your email. This legislation passed on voice vote. After 269 days, the bill still sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee. I yield to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), to speak about this important legislation.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from West Virginia for his services on the Financial Services Committee, a demanding committee and a committee that he has certainly shown his brilliance on. So we appreciate his work very much. Mr. Speaker, with rising premiums and sky-high deductibles, Americans are hurting under ObamaCare. Republicans talk a lot about increasing competition in the healthcare market, and this next bill actually makes that talk a reality. H.R. 372, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act restores Federal antitrust laws to the health insurance industry, ensuring that the market for health insurance remains competitive and affordable for Americans. On March 22, the House passed this legislation in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion, and 416 Members voted for it. It is 226 days later, and the Senate can still not move that legislation through its Chamber. I yield to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar), to say a few words about this bill that he sponsored.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Arizona for his insight, and I appreciate his comments here tonight. Mr. Speaker, in 2010, President Obama and Congress passed the Dodd- Frank legislation that attempted to reform Wall Street and end the too- big-to-fail problem. But instead of fixing the financial industry, Dodd-Frank was mainly served to excessively regulate local community banks, making it harder for individuals on Main Street to gain access to credit. The Financial CHOICE Act, sponsored by Chairman Jeb Hensarling from the Financial Services Committee, replaced Dodd-Frank with a system that holds Wall Street accountable, while also making credit more accessible for Main Street America. The bill passed the House with 233 votes. It has been stuck in the Senate for 148 days. I yield to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mooney), my friend and colleague, who sits on the Financial Services Committee, to talk about H.R. 10, the Financial CHOICE Act.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Georgia for his passionate defense of life. Mr. Speaker, Americans should be able to go about their daily lives without the fear of nuclear or radiological attack. Representative Dan Donovan's Securing the Cities Act helps equip our cities to deal with these dangerous weapons, providing training and detection resources. On January 31, the House agreed by voice vote to this commonsense legislation. For some reason, the Senate has failed in the last 276 days to move this bill. I am proud to have the bill's sponsor, as well as m friend and colleague, Dan Donovan, here to share more about this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York, Mr. Donovan.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Chairman, I would just ask my colleagues to support my amendment, and I thank the chairman of the subcommittee for his support. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak about my amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies division of H.R. 3354. Mr. Chairman, the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, or SCAAP, is intended to further local law enforcement's ability to adhere to Federal immigration law. SCAAP provides States and localities with Federal funds to help offset correctional costs related to incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens with at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions. However, in recent years, the number of jurisdictions receiving SCAAP funding that have adopted sanctuary policies, allowing violent criminal aliens to go free, has skyrocketed. My amendment would cut off SCAAP money for cities that violate the intent of these funds. These sanctuary cities must not continue using taxpayer money to flagrantly violate Federal immigration law and put American citizens at risk. Look no further than my home State of Colorado in the case of Mr. Ever Valles. Back in October, Mr. Valles was picked up on charges, including possession of a weapon, vehicle theft, and eluding. He also had a history of gang involvement. ICE placed a detainer on Mr. Valles, but Denver officials failed to honor the Federal detainer, releasing him without providing the proper notice to ICE officials. Upon his release, Mr. Valles took part in robbing and shooting 32-year-old Tim Cruz at an RTD train station. He has been charged with first-degree murder. Sanctuary policies just don't break the law. They place people's lives in danger. We cannot continue allowing these jurisdiction sanctuary cities to use taxpayer money to further these misguided policies. In fact, the Office of Justice Programs' own website states that applicants for SCAAP funds are required to certify compliance with all applicable Federal laws at the time of application. It goes on to say that, if the OJP receives information indicating that an applicant violated the statute related to sanctuary policies, that the applicant will be investigated by the inspector general and could be subject to criminal and civil penalties. A recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency report identified the top 10 jurisdictions with the highest volume of detainers issued that restrict cooperation with ICE. Not surprisingly, every one of those sanctuary cities received SCAAP awards in fiscal year 2016. Mr. Chairman, sanctuary cities stand against the rule of law. These jurisdictions support illegal immigration and allow individuals who violate the law to remain free. We cannot allow these jurisdictions to continue these harmful policies on the American people's dime. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Chairman, I yield an additional 20 seconds to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson).

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Chairman, may I ask how much time I have left.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Chair, I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to speak about my amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Division of H.R. 3354. Mr. Chair, the right to bear arms is ingrained in our nation's founding. These rights are given to us by God and guaranteed by the Constitution. But for many Americans, this right has been forfeited. And their only option for recourse has been taken away. When I was District Attorney in Northern Colorado I met a man who told me that when he was in college he bounced a check to his landlord. He pleaded guilty to a felony. Since that day, he has been a model citizen. He finished college. He worked hard and raised a family. This man made a mistake that is still haunting him nearly 40 years later. He wants to take his grandchildren hunting. But he can't possess a firearm because he made a mistake in his youth. The worst part of this situation is that the law allows the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to consider petitions to restore this man's right to possess a firearm. However, for 25 years, the underlying bill has included a provision authored by then-Rep. Schumer prohibiting ATF from processing these applications. America is a land of second chances. We restore civil rights for those who have made mistakes in their past, including the right to vote in many states. We help our neighbors find employment after incarceration. Why should non-violent individuals who made a mistake in their past be prohibited from having their case heard? This amendment simply seeks to remove a 25-year-old ban on the ATF's legal function to hear petitions from non-violent individuals like the man I mentioned earlier. To be clear, my amendment would not act as a rubber stamp on every application. The ATF must weigh the merits of each individual case. The burden is on the applicant to prove that he or she is nonviolent and does not pose a threat to the community. Any American who can prove to ATF they do not pose a danger to society should be allowed to state their case. They should be allowed to advocate for their rights. It is about time that we give these individuals that opportunity again. Mr. Chair, my amendment is simple. It would give nonviolent individuals who made a mistake in their past the opportunity for a second chance. It would allow a grandfather the opportunity to take his grandchildren hunting and provide a way for a mother to protect her home. To be clear, this amendment does not guarantee that an applicant will have their rights restored. But it does give them hope, a chance to once again possess their Second Amendment rights. After all, America is the land of second chances. I thank the Chairman and urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

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

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK

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

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment to protect private property rights in Colorado. This amendment would prevent the creation and expansion of a National Heritage Area in southeast Colorado. Heritage Areas open the door to new land use restrictions on privately held land that are strongly opposed in this part of my district. I recently held multiple townhalls in southeast Colorado to hear the unique concerns of these rural communities. At the top of their list was a need to cut burdensome government red tape that hurts their businesses and threatens their way of life. These small family farms and ranches should not be forced to follow new regulations that give control of their private lands to Washington, D.C. That is why this amendment is so important. It allows Coloradans to keep control of their land. My amendment would only affect nine counties in Colorado and protect them from new, unwanted land use restrictions. This amendment passed last year by voice vote, and I urge my colleagues to again support the private property rights of these farmers and ranchers. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the subcommittee chair.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Chairman, this amendment will protect private property rights in southeast Colorado. These families have worked for generations to maintain their land. They should not lose their livelihoods because of land use restrictions from Washington, D.C. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hensel Phelps Construction Company for receiving the 2017 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. This prestigious award is given to only a handful of firms out of over 3,000 applicants in order to recognize their support of National Guard and Reserve employees. This is truly a remarkable achievement that speaks to Hensel Phelps' care for our service members. Hensel Phelps is a thriving, international corporation that was founded in Greeley, Colorado in 1937. Over the last 80 years, this company has grown from a local commercial construction company to the prosperous international business it is today. They have created thousands of jobs and have made notable contributions to improve the communities around their operations, as well as their employees' livelihoods. Hensel Phelps is an excellent example of what enterprising and forward thinking businesses can accomplish in America's great economy. As a former executive there, I have experienced firsthand what a remarkable company it is. The skills I learned and experiences I had while at Hensel Phelps still help me to this day as I work to represent the people of Colorado's fourth district. The care given to their staff is exceptional, and they should be commended for their innovative spirit, employee ownership model, and commitment to supporting our troops. Hensel Phelps' inspiring success confirms that the American Dream is alive and thriving in Colorado and the United States. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Hensel Phelps Construction Company for receiving the 2017 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and sacrifice made by Marine Corporal David Sonka. Corporal David Sonka was a devoted son, husband, and Marine. He grew up in Parker, Colorado and knew at a young age he wanted to serve his country. Corporal Sonka enlisted in the United States Marine Corps immediately following his high school graduation in 2008. He completed Military Police school, K9 School, and in 2012 was selected to become a dog handler for the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he was paired with his faithful canine companion, Flex. On March 31, 2013, Corporal Sonka and Flex were deployed with Marine Special Operations Team 8223 to Farah Province, Afghanistan. While on watch during a meeting between Afghan military personnel and Marine Special Operations Forces on May 4, 2013, an Afghan soldier opened fire and fatally injured both Corporal Sonka and Flex. Corporal Sonka has since been recognized for his bravery and sacrifice. He received a Combat Action Ribbon, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Purple Heart. Additionally, the town of Parker, Colorado named their dog park after Corporal Sonka as did the MARSOC K9 Training Facility in Camp Lejeune. Our nation owes no greater debt of gratitude than the one we owe our veterans. It is the heroic bravery and incredible sacrifices made by individuals like Corporal Sonka that have helped secure the freedoms that we as Americans hold dear. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my deepest gratitude to Corporal Sonka for his service and sacrifice for our nation. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Marine Corporal David Sonka for his sacrifice in defending the United States of America.