Ken Buck

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bill Markham on being inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame. This honor is reserved for those who have made a significant contribution to the agricultural industry of Colorado and the United States. Throughout his life, Mr. Markham has contributed to the agricultural industry. His dedication to educating the youth in Colorado about the importance of agriculture inspired him to donate his time and resources to the Colorado Young Farmers Educational Association, serving as state president and national secretary. He was also a member of the Colorado Livestock Association and Colorado Corn Growers Association. Throughout the years, he has won various awards for his commitment to agriculture, and even appeared in a Coors television commercial. Despite Mr. Markham's accomplishments within his community, he is most proud to hold the title farmer. Mr. Markham is the owner of M&M Farms, where he has spent countless days growing Rocky Mountain Barley for Coors Brewing Company. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Mr. Bill Markham. His passion and dedication to the agricultural industry makes him more than worthy of this distinct recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Mr. Bill Markham for his accomplishments.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Marc Arnusch on being selected as the 2016 Rising Star in Colorado Agriculture. This honor is reserved for those who have made a significant contribution to the agricultural industry of Colorado and the United States. Mr. Arnusch has an extensive background in Colorado agriculture. After receiving a degree in Agricultural Economics, he returned home and began working the land adjacent to his father's farm. He now operates Marc Arnusch Farms, LLC which stretches across 2,400 acres in Prospect Valley. Mr. Arnusch is a member of the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee and the Colorado Farm Bureau, and has held various leadership roles within the Colorado Farm Bureau. His attendance and participation in local forums, appearance in television commercials, and efforts on behalf of agriculture have helped make him a prominent figure in his community. He has become a powerful voice for agriculture in Colorado and I look forward to learning of his future endeavors. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes as Mr. Arnusch pursues his future undertakings. His passion and dedication to the agricultural industry makes him more than worthy of this distinct recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Mr. Marc Arnusch for his accomplishments.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Charles Bartlett on being posthumously inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame. This honor is reserved for those who have made a significant contribution to the agricultural industry of Colorado and the United States. Mr. Bartlett made a substantial impact on the Colorado agriculture industry throughout his lifetime. He got his start at an early age, when he undertook a supervisory role on his family's farm when he was 20 years old. Dedicating his time to protecting Coloradan's water and agriculture, he became Chairman of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and cofounded First FarmBank and FarmBank Holding Company. Mr. Bartlett maintained a commitment to education in his community. He served on several school boards including the Board of Cooperative Educational Services and the Buffalo School District Board of Education. He received numerous prestigious awards, including the Colorado Corn Amicus Friend of Agriculture Award, throughout his lifetime for his many acts of public service. It is clear that he cared greatly about bettering his community through leadership and hard work. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to the family of Mr. Charles Bartlett. His passion and dedication to the agricultural industry makes him more than worthy of this distinct recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Mr. Charles Bartlett for his accomplishments.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Dale McCall on being inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame. This honor is reserved for those who have made a significant contribution to the agricultural industry of Colorado and the United States. Dr. McCall has made a great impact on the agricultural industry throughout his life. He devoted 40 years to agricultural education after receiving his bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. degrees from Colorado State University. He has helped the next generation of agriculture producers through his roles as a teacher, Agricultural Education staff member, and even Executive Director of Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Not only has Dr. McCall given his time to agricultural education, he also has first-hand experience working on the farm. He and his wife have grown a variety of crops including oats, wheat, and milo. He is the current president of the Rocky Mountain Farmer's Union and has received numerous awards for his various agriculture and educational achievements. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes as Dr. McCall pursues his future endeavors. His passion and dedication to the agricultural industry makes him more than worthy of this distinct recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Dr. Dale McCall for his accomplishments.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Robert Miller's retirement after a lifetime of service to the state of Colorado and the United States. Bob Miller has dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice and order in our country. Bob received his Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado in 1965. He then worked 51 years in the legal profession as the first full-time District Attorney of Weld County, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, and an equity partner at Perkins Coie LLP. In addition to his work in the legal profession, he also served our nation as a member of the United States Air Force. Besides his incredibly successful career, Bob Miller is most proud to have raised his family in Greeley, Colorado. In fact, his fondest memory is of watching his son, now Assistant District Attorney of Weld County, succeed in cracking a horrendous murder cold case. Though he is stepping down as a partner at Perkins Coie LLP, Mr. Miller will continue to serve the people in a consulting role with the firm. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Mr. Robert Miller for his accomplishments.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bill Webster on being inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame. This honor is reserved for those who have made a significant contribution to the agricultural industry of Colorado and the United States. Mr. Webster has had a tremendous impact on agriculture in Colorado. He started Webster Land and Cattle Company at a young age and managed the company for over thirty years. After his retirement, Mr. Webster served in the Colorado State Legislature and as the Weld County Commissioner at Large. He has continuously been a leader in his community, serving on multiple boards and participating in various organizations. Today he is involved in the Greeley Rotary Club, T-Bone Club, First Congregational Church, and the American Legion. In addition to being a leader in his community, Mr. Webster served his country for two years in the United States Army. After his many years of public service, Mr. Webster returned to Colorado State University to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. Mr. Bill Webster has set an exceptional example of leadership and public service, and it is a great honor to call him a dear friend and my father-in-law. On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Colorado, I extend my best wishes to Mr. Bill Webster. His passion and dedication to the agricultural industry makes him more than worthy of this distinct recognition. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Mr. Bill Webster for his accomplishments.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I thank the gentleman from Texas and the gentleman from Kentucky for their remarks, and I appreciate the insightful remarks from the gentleman from Massachusetts. I am troubled right now. I am struggling to remember--as the gentleman describes Russia with its terrible record on human rights, I am trying to remember exactly who it was who had the reset button with Vladimir Putin, and I don't think it was the Trump administration. I could be wrong. Mr. Speaker, America has come so far in advancing the rights of those with disabilities. We have also fought long and hard to protect our constitutional rights. The rule before us achieves both of those ends. The Obama administration's last-ditch effort to strip constitutional rights from individuals with disabilities must not stand. We also cannot stand for regulations that place American companies at a disadvantage and place their workers at risk. The rule before us will undo the costly and dangerous reporting requirements placed on America's energy companies operating abroad. When we repeal this unwise regulation on American energy companies, they can again fully contribute to the world's energy economy. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this rule and the underlying measures.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Rules Committee for being here today and just reinforce some of what the chairman had to say. As I travel Colorado, I hear from individuals of all walks of life about the regulatory burdens that they face, the burden that has been placed upon them by their own government and how those burdens have impeded their life, liberty, and certainly pursuit of happiness. Small- business owners who would not open their business today because of the change in the business climate find that their tax burden, their regulatory burden, and the attitude of Federal regulators is such that they would choose a different path had they had to do it all over again. I talked to school administrators who are, again, facing a pile of paperwork to comply with school and nutrition requirements that have been promulgated by this previous administration. I talk to veterans who have to wait on long, long lines and fill out ridiculous paperwork because the Veterans Administration is unable to recognize the necessity, the importance of what those veterans are trying to accomplish at the VA. I am deeply concerned about the regulations, and I am proud that my colleagues have decided to address some of these regulations in the way that they have. I appreciate the chairman standing up on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I have a few comments before I close, and then I would like to recognize the chairman for additional comments.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).

Mr. BUCK. I am waiting for one. I do not have a speaker now, but the gentleman's eloquence would be welcome at this point and any way that the gentleman would like to inform us on important issues.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate my colleague from Massachusetts raising the issue of a thoughtful process and whether this legislation was rushed to the floor. I think it is worth noting that the original legislation, which this rule seeks to amend, became law in a time when my colleague was in the House and his party was in the majority. The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 was introduced in the House on June 11, 2007. The bill was moved by Congressman Conyers under suspension of the rules and passed by the House on June 13, 2007. There was no markup in the Judiciary Committee. There was no meaningful debate on the floor. The bill was rammed through the House in 3 days without any thought to the potential consequences of its passage. It passed the Senate by unanimous consent. I did not see others standing up to leadership at that point in time. In its implementation, we are seeing the consequences. They involve the stripping away of constitutional rights and due process rights. They involve the elimination of due process rights. They involve discrimination against individuals with disabilities. As for the point that this rule that we are now debating somehow encourages corruption, the fact is that this regulation puts U.S. companies at a competitive disadvantage to state-owned entities abroad that are not subject to SEC regulation. Additionally, it costs hundreds of millions of dollars in compliance costs for U.S. businesses. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act already prohibits bribes to foreign governments to obtain or retain business. These are legitimate payments being made to foreign governments, the payments that we are discussing here, and we should still prosecute any corruption to the full extent of the law. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of the rule and the underlying resolutions. Before us is a resolution of disapproval that restores constitutional rights and empowers individuals with disabilities. Many of us know someone who struggles with a disability. We know friends or family who have mental challenges. We know these people, and we know they deserve the same constitutional protections as everyone else. That is why this resolution is so important. It ends discrimination against individuals with disabilities. It restores due process rights. It keeps the Social Security Administration focused on its duty. Mr. Speaker, the Obama administration's last-minute regulation to strip disability benefit recipients of their constitutional rights is deeply troubling. The regulation at hand declares that just because an individual needs assistance in managing their disability benefits, they are also unfit to own a firearm. But this kind of thinking is discriminatory, forcing those with disabilities to choose between their constitutional rights or their disability benefits turns back the clock on disability rights. This regulation singles out a single constitutional right to strip away from a group of Americans. It doesn't make sense. Why take away one right and not others? Why not also strip those citizens of the right to vote or the right to trial by jury or the right to free speech? In this country, your rights can't be limited without due process, but this regulation limits a constitutional right and only offers the recourse of appeal after the decision has been made. When it is easier to have your rights stripped away than to have them restored, it means your due process rights have also died in the process. Mr. Speaker, this resolution restores the due process rights of individuals with disabilities. This resolution also refocuses the Social Security Administration. The agency's job is to administer benefits to Americans, not adjudicate cases concerning constitutional rights. Mr. Speaker, I am also worried that this regulation will divert precious Social Security Administration resources from vital agency tasks. We trust the agency to fulfill our commitments to seniors and those with disabilities. This regulation distracts from those sacred promises. I thank Mr. Johnson and my colleagues for their hard work on this resolution. We need to pass it. Mr. Speaker, we also need to pass the joint resolution of disapproval for the Dodd-Frank section 1504 regulation. This resolution restores competitiveness to American energy companies. It allows American companies to comply with foreign and domestic laws, and it protects American workers abroad. Section 1504 of Dodd-Frank requires companies to report their payments to our government or foreign governments related to oil, natural gas, and mineral extraction. After reporting this to the SEC, the agency publishes these disclosures. This process is costly and unfair to American businesses. By forcing disclosure of project-level sensitive business information, American energy companies will face a disadvantage against government-owned energy companies. Since government-owned companies control three-quarters of the world's oil supply, this regulation could drastically impair the competitiveness of American companies. And the actual cost of compliance limit, estimated by the American Petroleum Institute to take 217,000 employee hours over a 3-year period, would be devastating. Section 1504 must also be rolled back because it might force American companies to break the law of foreign countries. Some foreign nations prohibit the very disclosure requirements required by this SEC regulation. Our companies should not have to decide between following the rule of law here and following it abroad. Finally, by forcing such detailed and specific disclosures to the public, section 1504 could make energy extraction sites prime targets for terrorists. Whether in the U.S. or abroad, we need to wisely protect American workers from terrorism and other threats. Mr. Speaker, this resolution restores competitiveness to American companies, allowing them to contribute to the global energy economy in a safe, secure, and legal manner. It is time for Congress to reassert its authority and fix this poorly implemented legislation. I commend the work done by Representative Huizenga and my colleagues on this important resolution, and I urge its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

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, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 71 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Massie).

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rob Austrian and Monica Mosimann for their hard work and dedication to the people of Colorado's Fourth District as interns in my Washington, D.C. office for the Fall of 2016. The work of this young man and woman has been exemplary, and I know they will have bright futures. They served as tour guides, interacted with constituents, and both learned a great deal about our nation's legislative process. I was glad to be able to offer this educational opportunity, and look forward to seeing them build their careers in public service. Rob plans to continue pursuing his degree at the end of his internship, and I have recently hired Monica as a Staff Assistant in my D.C. office. I wish them both the best as they pursue their respective career paths. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Rob Austrian and Monica Mosimann for their service the last several months to the people of Colorado's 4th district.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the passing of Karla Louise Grieser on August 26th, 2016. A longtime resident of Colorado, Karla was well known in her church and community. Karla was born in Wauseon, Ohio on April 18th, 1944. In 1965 she married her sweetheart Merle Grieser, and they moved to Colorado together in 1969. Karla worked as an accountant for KLZ Radio and Television for several years, but her family always remained her number one priority. From a young age Karla devoted herself to helping others. She went to school to be a nurse, an education focused on healing the sick, caring for others, and ministering those in need. I have seen the passion in Karla's heart for nurturing, supporting, and protecting those who couldn't defend themselves. Karla was a leader in the pro-life movement. She started the life chain in Greeley, where hundreds of volunteers lined the streets to pray and support the sanctity of human life. I have seen firsthand how Karla's fight for the pro-life movement was not only God's calling, but her way of protecting the most vulnerable in our society. The life chain was just the beginning for Karla's commitment to protecting the unborn. She led the monumental task of founding The Genesis Project of Northern Colorado, a faith based non-profit in the Greeley area. This organization provides shelter, support, and spiritual guidance for numerous women and children to this day. It was clear Karla cared about more than providing basic necessities; it was about helping those women and children become an asset in their community. I sat in many Genesis board meetings, and it was clear Karla was giving these single mothers a second chance at life. Karla held many other prominent positions in her community, all of which helped improve the lives of those around her. She was President of Weld County Right to Life, actively involved with the Weld County Republicans, and helped at several children's ministries. Due to her continued work to better the community, Karla was invited to help revise the Comprehensive Plan for Weld County. Karla devoted her life to improving Colorado, and she left a positive influence on everybody she met. It is the values Karla embodied throughout her life that makes Colorado the best place to live in the country. I extend my deepest condolences to Karla's friends and family for their loss. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Karla Louise Grieser for her commitment to Jesus Christ, family, and Colorado. She will be sorely missed.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication and achievements of the students of Yuma High School. In memory of Eliza Routt and her tireless commitment to public service, Colorado and Secretary of State Wayne Williams have created the Eliza Prickell Routt Award. This award recognizes high school students who register 85 percent or more of their senior class to vote and commends the outstanding dedication of students who are participating in civic engagement. This year, the recipient of the Eliza Prickell Routt Award is Yuma High School. This student body has shown their commitment to strengthen our democracy and improve our ability to govern. The efforts made by these high school students are significant, and we should applaud them as their accomplishment will better our nation for future generations. It is truly inspiring to see the next generation, represented by these students, striving for a better future. Yuma High School, and these young men and women, embody the values that make America exceptional. I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations in this achievement and their acceptance of the Eliza Prickell Routt Award. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Yuma High School and its students for their commitment to democracy and the United States of America.

Mr. BUCK

Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kaylee Grant, Spencer Long, Ryan Tillman, and Douglass Quirk for their hard work and dedication to the people of Colorado's Fourth District as interns in my Washington, DC office for the Summer 2016 session of Congress. The work of these young men and women has been exemplary and I know they will have a bright future ahead of them. They learned a great deal about our nation's legislative process and served as tour guides and interacted with constituents. I was glad to be able to offer this educational opportunity to them and look forward to seeing them build their careers in public service. Kaylee, Spencer, Ryan and Douglass plan to continue pursuing their college degrees at the end of their internships and I wish them the best in their future endeavors. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Kaylee Grant, Spencer Long, Ryan Tillman, and Douglass Quirk for their service this Summer.

Mr. BUCK

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