Ted Budd

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, this is American Education Week, and I rise to honor and thank the teachers and school administrators who have dedicated their lives to ensure our future generations are stronger than ever. There are over 50 million kids in our public schools today. Back in 2015, before the Every Student Succeeds Act was signed into law, the Federal approach to education relied heavily on standardized testing to measure academic achievement. While I understand the importance of testing to measure academic growth from year to year, there should be a number of indicators for evaluating academic success and improvement for both schools and students. After that bill passed in 2015, the goal shifted from teaching children more efficiently to inspiring lifelong learning in students. I applaud educators for embracing this goal, and I am hopeful that this approach will better prepare millions of students for the challenges that await them in life and in the workforce. While on the subject of Federal education, we cannot avoid the debate over the amount of taxpayer money we send to schools throughout the country. There is and always will be bipartisan agreement that we should make sure schools have the resources they need in order to be successful. But in the coming appropriations cycle, and in future ones, we must also remember that additional spending does not necessarily improve student performance. This has been proven time and time again, Mr. Speaker. One data point I would refer folks to is high school graduation rates, which have remained stagnant since the 1970s. What we have seen is very unfortunate: the system continues to grind forward, with costs going up each year and our efficiency going in the opposite direction. I will continue to fight for education reforms aimed at improving resource allocation and boosting student performance. Recognizing the shortfalls within our K-12 education may not be a popular talking point, but I think it is worth emphasizing the need to act responsibly and address the problems students, parents, and educators face. Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by saying two things. The first is a simple thank you to the teachers, including those teachers in my own family, who have dedicated their life to serving students. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. The second thing is that I will work hard to improve our education system for students in my district and around the country.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding. I also want to thank Chairman Hensarling for his dedicated leadership of his committee. I appreciate all he did to bring my legislation, H.R. 5036, to the floor. I also want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch), my co-lead on the bill, for his efforts, his experience, and his knowledge. It only made the bill better, so I appreciated working with him. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bipartisan legislation, the Financial Technology Protection Act. We all know that illicit financing networks are the lynchpin of any terrorist group's, criminal organization's, or rogue state's operations. As we move into an increasingly digital world, criminals and terrorists will start to use these new technologies that are available to them. That presents a problem. That problem is that we know that criminals use digital currencies through dark net markets to criminalize and to monetize cyber attacks. There is documented evidence that terrorists are increasingly using these currencies. The RAND Corporation has some good supporting evidence on this. The bottom line is that the Federal Government has to be one step ahead of the illicit actors in this new space without threatening technological innovation, and that is what H.R. 5036 will do. Specifically, my legislation will do the following things to help make sure the United States stays ahead of this problem: First, it establishes the Independent Financial Technology Task Force to Combat Terrorism and Illicit Financing, whose goal is to improve coordination between private and public sectors on digital currency terror strategy and to combat illicit use. From my perspective, industry and the Federal Government should be coming together to find best practices and solutions to stop this new terrorist funding threat. Secondly, H.R. 5036 includes language from H.R. 5227, the Preventing Rogue and Foreign Actors From Evading Sanctions Act, which was introduced by my friend Mark Meadows of North Carolina. This language directs the Treasury Department to develop a strategy that identifies and describes the potential uses of virtual currencies and other emerging technologies by states, nonstate actors, and terrorist organizations to evade sanctions, finance terrorism, or launder monetary instruments and threaten the United States' national security. Again, the development of a national strategy to combat illicit use strikes me as common sense; therefore, we are excited to have it included in the bill and to have Mr. Meadows' support as well. Also, the Budd-Lynch legislation establishes a targeted rewards program for information leading to the capture of terrorists or illicit actors involved with terror digital currency networks. The government should be encouraging individuals with knowledge of illicit use of virtual currencies to come forward through the offerings of rewards for successful convictions. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, H.R. 5036 establishes the Fintech Leadership in Innovation and Financial Intelligence Program, which will be used for grants and rewards in the Fintech space for ideas and programs to combat terrorist use of digital currencies. These technologies would be open access and open source. Experts in the private sector can track illicit use of these currencies and perhaps do a better job of leveraging their talent to create tools and programs through the Fintech Leadership and Financial Intelligence Program. We need to give them the ability to try, and that is what this bill does. Here is the bottom line, Mr. Speaker. H.R. 5036 is legislation that sparks private-sector innovation to deal with terror and illicit financing when it comes to virtual currencies. I think that Congress should be promoting programs and technologies that give industry the tools they need to save their technology and industry from illicit use and, hopefully, save them from further regulation down the road. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Walter ``Sticky'' Burch, who is going to be 100 years old on October 21. And that is a great day, Mr. Speaker. It is also my birthday, although mine is just a few years after his. Walter Burch was born in Asheville but grew up in Greensboro and spent much of his life serving in the Greensboro Police Department. His service to our Nation began just 9 days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. During the Second World War, he helped gather intelligence on enemy operations in Europe, but his service to his country did not end there. Walter returned home and joined the police department, where he served for nearly 50 years. He officially retired in 1981, but he ran for sheriff just a few years later. He went on to serve two terms as the sheriff of Guilford County. Since retiring from law enforcement, Walter has remained deeply involved in our community, and the people of Guilford County are lucky to have him. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the 100th birthday of Walter ``Sticky'' Burch and his lifelong commitment to public service.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the resolution we are voting on this afternoon, condemning the violence committed by the government of Nicaragua against it own citizens. I met with Brenda Lancaster and her husband last week in my office. She is a constituent of mine who started an organization called ZMI Family Ministries International, and they have planted ministries in five different countries, one of those countries being Nicaragua. Mr. Speaker, Brenda has received hundreds of calls and messages from people affiliated with her ministry down there confirming the severity of the situation. She has seen pictures and videos that she wishes no one would ever have to see. Luke 9:57 in the Scriptures recounts a man speaking to Jesus saying: ``I will follow you wherever you go.'' Brenda didn't think that she would start a ministry in Nicaragua, but that is where God led her. And now people who work and volunteer fear for their lives down there. America has always been at the forefront of fighting human rights abuses around the world. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to do everything in my power to bring awareness to this pressing issue.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the House's guest chaplain for the day, John Vernon, who comes to us from High Point, North Carolina. John is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church and currently serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Wesleyan Christian Academy. Beyond the Wesleyan Church, John also serves as lead chaplain for the High Point Police Department, where he has served faithfully for 18 years. Within the last year, John has taken on the role of lead chaplain for the High Point Fire Department. John and his wife, Kim, will celebrate 37 years of marriage together this year. They have two sons, Travis and Kyle, and two wonderful daughters-in-law, Stephanie and Hillary. We are glad to have Kim, Kyle, and Hillary joining us in the gallery. Among John and Kim's greatest joys in their lives is spending time with their three granddaughters, Sadie, Millie, and Nora. I want to thank Chaplain Vernon for his service and for opening the House in prayer this morning. We are honored and privileged that he and his family call High Point home.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan JOBS and Investor Confidence Act, and I appreciate Chairman Hensarling for his leadership on this capital formation package. I want to highlight my own bill included in this package, H.R. 3903, the Encouraging Public Offerings Act, which allows issuers to submit to the SEC for confidential review, before publicly filing, draft registration statements for IPOs. H.R. 3903 will reduce the risk to companies that are contemplating going public in order to make listing on exchanges more attractive, which, in the end, will only strengthen America's financial markets. Mr. Speaker, the JOBS and Investor Confidence Act will make it easier for startups and small businesses in my district to attract the investments they need to go public, to grow, and to create more jobs. I am proud to support it.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Mooresville, North Carolina's own, the Penske racing team, as they recently added yet another big win to their legendary trophy case and brought home the 2018 Indianapolis 500. North Carolina is proud of the whole team, Mr. Speaker, but I want to specifically recognize Will Power who was behind the wheel when they took home the win. I also want to recognize team owner, Roger Penske, who, with this latest win, can claim his 17th victory at the speedway. Iredell County and the entire State of North Carolina is proud of the 32 national championships, including 15 in IndyCar, specifically coming from the Penske team. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to represent a group whose leadership, determination, and drive brings so much pride to our area. I am also glad they choose this part of North Carolina to call home, and I look forward to their bringing even more trophies back to our area in the coming years.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, the cost of health insurance is on the minds of many Americans this summer, and it should be. Nearly half a million people in North Carolina buy their health insurance on the ObamaCare marketplace. The average price for these plans continues to go up each and every year. This wouldn't be as much of an issue if there were many options to choose from, but, unfortunately, there are not. Blue Cross, the only insurer that is still in all 100 counties in our State, announced that they were raising rates by an average of nearly 19 percent going into 2017. Then they raised them again this year by over 14 percent. I expect them to do the same next year, the year after that, and in coming years after that. It is clear to me that the individual mandate didn't actually lower the cost of health insurance, and bailing out big insurance companies certainly didn't help either. Mr. Speaker, as you know very well, we need an off-ramp from ObamaCare. We need a solution that allows for more competition, because competition drives down prices and allows people to purchase health insurance without going bankrupt. While we continue to work toward getting a full repeal and replace on the President's desk, I believe we should also pass a simple bill right now that would provide millions of Americans a way to buy more affordable health insurance Short-term, limited-duration medical plans are designed to provide coverage for a limited time when someone is between health insurance policies--individuals who are between jobs, for example--but these plans are also exempt from having to abide by ObamaCare's regulatory regime. The Obama administration was concerned with these plans becoming attractive alternatives to ObamaCare. So before they left office in 2016, they issued a regulation that defined these short-term policies as those that are less than 3 months long. I believe strengthening these types of plans would be a huge step in the right direction. That is why, last month, I introduced a simple bill called the Improving Choices in Health Care Coverage Act. This bill would do two simple things. It would allow people to stay on these less expensive, short-term medical plans for as long as 364 days, and it would allow them to renew these plans for multiple years. According to the American Action Forum, which looked at different findings from the Congressional Budget Office, the Urban Institute, and the Commonwealth Fund, there seems to be a consensus that these plans would be attractive to consumers because of their low premiums, and, thus, enrollment would likely be into the millions. I hear from constituents every time I go back home that their monthly premiums are way too high. Mr. Speaker, this bill is one way we can relieve some of their financial stress. With looming announcements by big insurance companies that they are again going to be increasing premiums, the time to act is now.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Richard Harrison, the patriarch of the History Channel reality show ``Pawn Stars.'' Richard grew up in Lexington, North Carolina and joined the U.S. Navy shortly after graduating high school. He married, had four children, and eventually opened a small pawn shop in Las Vegas after 20 years in the Navy. At Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, Richard proudly operated the only family-owned pawn shop in Las Vegas. The store was not just a way to run a business, but also a way for Richard to influence those he worked with. He taught many folks the value of hard work, the importance of family, and the gift of humor. I admire the contributions Richard made to this great nation of ours and honor this Davidson County native. His knack for hard work has clearly resonated with his son, Rick, and grandson, Corey. Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the life of Richard Harrison.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Chairman, I want to first thank my friend from Kentucky for his leadership on this bill. The THRIVE Act is an important piece of legislation, and I am proud to cosponsor it. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has found that we lose about 115 Americans each and every day to the opioid crisis. These are our brothers, our sisters, our friends, and our coworkers. This is a national crisis, and inaction just won't change a single thing. I have met with a number of people back home who told me that we need to think about more than just the prevention and the treatment stage of the opioid crisis, and they are exactly right. When you hear people tell me this, it reminds me of a conversation I had recently with David Kessler, who lives in my district and started an organization called GRIP It based in Mocksville. Group classes, one- on-one coaching, and assistance with detox programs are just three of the things that this group offers. David has found evidence of a ``cultural method'' that works, and it goes to show us that there are many different things that we could be trying. This brings me to the bill that we are voting on today, the THRIVE Act, which is part and parcel of this approach. It would expand housing options for individuals who are transitioning out of addiction treatments and require continued support. This is exactly the kind of policy that we need to be considering. Housing is part of a foundation that helps former addicts get off the streets and into a place that they can rise above poverty and addiction. Mr. Chairman, I want to make a larger point on this issue before I close. There has always been and still is a stigma around drug addiction. But if we want to make real progress on battling this epidemic, we need to change the way we look at those who are suffering. Rather than seeing them as liabilities, we need to see them as assets. The THRIVE Act, by helping people transition from recovery to a home, will do just that. And when they have a home, they will be more likely to get a job and get back to being a contributing member of society. Bold ideas are needed in the public space, and there is no doubt that Mr. Barr's bill falls into this category. I think Ronald Reagan said it best when he said: ``That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.''

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas. Today is a great day for North Carolina's community financial institutions, small business innovators, and, most importantly, our economy. I rise today in strong support of this rule that will bring a much-needed regulatory relief bill, S. 2155, to the House floor. The most damaging aspect of the Dodd-Frank bill was the additional and unnecessary regulatory burden placed on community financial institutions, and because of this, we have seen American consumers and small businesses struggle to get the credit and the support that they need. Economic growth is held back because of Dodd-Frank, but I am happy to report that relief is on the way with the passage of S. 2155. Madam Speaker, while I urge adoption of this rule and urge passage of this bill, I also look forward to working with our chairman and our leader, Jeb Hensarling, Senator Mike Crapo, and Senate Democrats to craft a package of bills that focuses on capital formation. I offer any support I can to help bring that collection of bills across the finish line as well. I urge adoption of the rule, Madam Speaker.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Major General George Marvin Johnson Jr. on his one hundredth birthday. General Johnson had a long and distinguished military career that started when he first joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 to when he retired in 1975 as a United States Air Force Major General. He selflessly served during World War II in the European Theater of Operations as an operations officer and troop carrier squadron commander, and participated in seven major campaigns. General Johnson has also served as a commander of the Oklahoma City Air Materiel Area, Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and was chief of staff of the Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. General Johnson's military distinctions and awards are many. They include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre. He was also awarded a command pilot rating with over 6,000 flying hours. It is with the utmost gratitude that I thank General Johnson for his service and congratulate him on celebrating this birthday of one hundred years. He has served our country with distinction and honor, and can be proud of his contributions towards protecting our citizens and strengthening the safety of our country. May his one hundredth year be filled with blessings. Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Major General George Marvin Johnson Jr. for his service to our great nation and for celebrating his one hundredth birthday.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Florida (Mr. Ross) for leading the fight on this issue, and also for the support across the aisle on this issue. Mr. Ross' bill corrects another oversight of the Dodd-Frank Act by reforming the nonbank SIFI designation process. Mr. Speaker, this bill does not take away FSOC's ability to designate nonbank financial institutions with the SIFI tag. It simply gives these institutions a greater opportunity to be heard before their final designation from FSOC. FSOC should not be able to simply dish out this designation to these institutions, subjecting them to Federal Reserve requirements, without explaining their reasoning. Unfortunately, we have seen FSOC do this in the past. This is especially important since nonbank financial institutions are clearly different entities than banks are. Capital requirements, for example, might not be suitable to address the risk profile of nonbank financial institutions, so why even subject them to these requirements. This is not a smart regulation, Mr. Speaker. Simply put, the nonbank SIFI designation process is not fair in its current form. Again, this bill is a smart, targeted step that I am confident will benefit investors and benefit our economy. Transparency and fairness should be welcome and not rejected. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Georgia for leading on this issue. I rise today in strong support of his bipartisan bill, the Comprehensive Regulatory Review Act. It strikes me as common sense that Federal regulators should review their regulations and rules on a consistent basis. They should also seek comment from the people whom these rules actually affect. Mr. Loudermilk's bill helps accomplish this goal by requiring the CFPB and National Credit Union Administration do so every 7 years. Mr. Speaker, since the implementation of Dodd-Frank, community banks and credit unions have had a more difficult time serving their customers. The red tape and additional burden brought on by Dodd-Frank has increased costs for the consumer and reduced their choices in the market for financial products. One agency in particular that is guilty for this additional burden is the CFPB, which has finalized over 60 rules since their creation. Many of their rules are duplicative and unnecessary. I think, at the very least, they should review and study how their regulations are affecting real folks in the real world. I hear from financial institutions back home how the CFPB has done nothing but harm their community bank or their credit union. They are being overwhelmed by the volume and complexity of regulations, and that is just not okay. Harmonization is the goal of this bill, and that should not be partisan or even controversial. We simply want less people buried in paperwork and more people starting businesses through their local financial institution. This bill is supported by folks across the political spectrum, and I am excited about the good it will do for our financial institutions back home and consumers in my district. I want to again thank Mr. Loudermilk for introducing this important piece of legislation that will ensure our financial system is functioning efficiently for hardworking Americans.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Mr. Kustoff's bill, the National Strategy for Combating the Financing of Transnational Criminal Organizations Act. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend for his leadership on this important issue, even if it does have a really, really long name. I have seen firsthand how these transnational drug cartels can disrupt civil society. In my own district, the opioid epidemic has destroyed innocent people's lives, including kids, while transnational criminal organizations, or TCOs, profit on people's misery and their death. TCOs have brought heroin to our streets and, along with it, increased crime, placing additional burdens on law enforcement in local communities. We are in crisis mode, and targeted steps need to be taken to address this epidemic at all phases. We have to crack down on the pusher on the street. We have to crack down on the drug cartels. We have to crack down on the drug companies that have made a profit from overprescription and filling suspect orders. Most of all, we have to crack down on the intricate faceless and unbelievably complex international criminal organizations that allow the profits from these activities into our economy. We must eradicate the international illicit financing networks that are the linchpin of any criminal organization's operations. But we don't have a unified national plan. Luckily, this committee has an opportunity to make a difference by coming up with a national strategy and plan to attack transnational criminal organizations' finances. Mr. Kustoff's bill would direct the Secretary of the Treasury to provide that plan, a vital first step towards addressing the threat posed by the growing sophistication of illicit financing networks. Passing this bill is a significant step toward an effective, sustained national strategy to attack the funding that makes these TCOs possible. Therefore, it is critical that we continue to maximize cooperation among Federal departments to keep our policies ahead of these transnational criminals. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of Mr. Kustoff's timely and important piece of legislation.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of House Resolution 759, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, it is not every day that I get to speak on behalf of someone who has changed the lives of millions of people across the globe, but today, I do. Billy Graham, who passed away last week, was known as America's pastor, and rightly so. When I was spending time this week in the district, someone who is a baseball fan came up to me and said: Do you know who's got the most saves in Yankee Stadium? I said: ``Sorry, I don't know my baseball history that well.'' He said: It was Billy Graham, in 1957. I had to laugh to think that it was truly God who did the saving. But let's think for a minute about Billy Graham. He was born in 1918 on a dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina, just south of my district. His crusades in the 1950s attracted thousands of people and shaped the beliefs of a generation by introducing many to the evangelical faith. In July of 1957, Graham invited Martin Luther, King., Jr., to preach in front of his audience at Madison Square Garden on the issue of racial justice. This was just months after the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Graham was a White pastor from North Carolina, and King was an African American pastor from Alabama. But both of them knew that the Lord doesn't see skin color and that the love of Christ could heal any racial division. Mr. Speaker, in today's polarized political culture, we could learn a thing or two from their friendship. Throughout his life, he met with 12 Presidents, dating back to Harry Truman. President Eisenhower called Graham ``one of the best ambassadors our country has,'' and John F. Kennedy brought Graham in before his inauguration to express his worry over the moral and spiritual condition of the Nation. Aside from his role in the civil rights movement and vocal opposition to communism, he uplifted the souls of millions of Americans. By introducing them to the love of Christ, Graham gave hope to the hopeless and love to those who were in need. Mr. Speaker, while our economy now is growing and wages are rising, Americans have still become increasingly more isolated, more lonely, and more depressed. This social crisis needs to be addressed but can't be solved by a bill that we pass in Congress or an executive action by any President. We have gotten to a point in our country where too many people put their hope in elected officials. These people will most certainly be let down, because elected officials, like everyone else, are fallen, imperfect, sinful people. Graham knew this, and he knew that the only person who would not let us down is Christ himself, and that we should trust in him for the forgiveness of our sins and have everlasting life. This is now the life Billy Graham will enjoy forever.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from Virginia for yielding. I really thank him for his leadership on this issue. The last time I spoke on this floor on immigration, I talked about three principles: One, Americans have the right to determine who becomes citizens through laws; two, the people who do come here should be in the best interest of American citizens; and three, that we have the right to enforce those choices. The people who do come here should be in the best interest of American citizens. That is key. What we are doing now isn't there yet. We allow, today, one individual to get a green card. Then he is able to sponsor his immediate family and relatives. And then the relatives can sponsor their relatives. Then the relatives of those relatives can sponsor their relatives and so on, until there is no one in the family left to sponsor or no one left who even wants to come to the United States. Potentially, this could go on forever. This is called chain migration, and 65 percent of our green cards are awarded through this chain migration. That is about 700,000 people every year gaining permanent residence in our country through no other criteria than that they happen to be related to someone who lives here. We have no idea whether these individuals are going to be economically successful. We have no idea whether they will contribute to our country. We don't even look at those characteristics for chain migration. The important question is who the immigrant is related to, not whether or not he might help America be a safer or a more prosperous country. Chain migration does not meet that key principle. American immigration should be in the best interest of Americans. The Securing America's Future Act ends this chain migration. It stops it for everyone except the children and spouses of immigrants. But those relatives cannot bring in additional immigrants, so the chain is broken. The Securing America's Future Act, in turn, replaces those immigrants with skilled workers, workers who could help us build a better future. I think about it this way: there are 150 million people around the world who would say that they would emigrate to the United States if they were just given the opportunity. What a great country. We could do what we do now and let those people enter on the basis of who they are related to. That is what we are doing. Or we could let in the best engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers, and businessmen. We can let in those who could speak English well, who know our system of government, who have gone to university. But that can only happen if we end chain migration. The chain migration proposal in the Securing America's Future Act becomes even more crucial when we look at the DACA issue. If we allow DACA recipients to get some form of residency, past history tells us that they will potentially sponsor around 3\1/2\ immigrants each. That is a 2- to 3-million-person increase in the immigrant population. That is a huge incentive for future immigrants to come here illegally. The notion that you will get to bring your whole family over here if you manage to enter illegally is part of what led to the 2013-2014 border crisis. When the previous administration was rumored to be granting amnesty, tens of thousands of Latin American families sent their minor children north. It was a national emergency, and it overwhelmed the Border Patrol and the immigrant processing facilities there in the Southwest. We had to pass emergency appropriations just to process these individuals. Any DACA fix that does not also include additional border security and protections against those migrating this way, they could really see a similar crisis. Madam Speaker, the Securing America's Future Act is an incredible piece of legislation. And while I have dwelt on its chain migration provisions--and there are many more worthy reforms--this bill cracks down on sanctuary cities, which my colleague mentioned earlier. It includes Kate's Law to toughen penalties against those who are deported, come back to the United States, and commit crimes. It includes mandatory E-Verify to crack down on businesses that break the law. It ends the diversity visa lottery, one of the most senseless Federal policies that I can think of. I thank Chairman Goodlatte for his efforts on this; I thank Representative Labrador, one of our staunchest conservative leaders in the House, for his leadership in crafting this bill; and I thank Representative Garrett for organizing this opportunity to discuss the bill.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and my friend and colleague from North Carolina, the deputy whip, for his leadership on this very important issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Consumers' Access to Credit Act of 2017. Mr. Speaker, we are on the verge of something special in the financial services space with financial technology opening the industry up to amazing innovation. However, as many of us gathered here today know, the Second Circuit's decision in the Madden v. Midland Funding case has put this innovation and movement in jeopardy. It has done so by undermining a long-held principle which has left fintech lenders and the secondary credit market with issues that need to be addressed. Luckily, Mr. McHenry's legislation provides a much-needed fix to the Second Circuit's decision by codifying the valid-when-made legal doctrine. This common law principle has been around and accepted in the financial services space for some time now. This bill will ensure that innovative lending practices remain intact, allowing creative and innovative sources of capital to reach the consumer and small businesses. This is important because it will help to preserve the relationship between banks and fintech firms. I am thankful this legislation is coming up for a vote today because it is greatly needed and, if enacted, will help our economy continue to grow. This body must continue to serve as an advocate for innovation in the credit and financial technology space because, ultimately, it will benefit community development, job creation, and, most importantly, the consumer. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bipartisan and commonsense piece of legislation.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jerry Myers and congratulate him on his retirement. Since 1988, Jerry Myers has been a tireless servant of the people and impacted countless individuals throughout his community. He proudly worked for the Davie County Emergency Medical Services and has overseen countless safety initiatives and plans. Jerry has accomplished much in his career from securing grant funding from the Department of Homeland Security, successfully leading fire safety improvement efforts, and training countless individuals to impact their community in a positive way. When Hurricane Matthew devastated hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians in October 2016, Jerry responded without hesitation. Along with a few other men from Davie county, he traveled to Raleigh to rescue citizens from rising waters. He led one of the first rescue teams in the Raleigh area, rescuing people from trees, homes, and the rising water levels. His actions saved countless lives during Hurricane Matthew and helped local emergency response teams. Residing in Davie County, he has two children and has shown himself to be a consummate family man. Jerry is a proud member of Bear Creek Baptist Church and remains an active member in the community. I am extremely grateful for Jerry's contributions and service and I wish him continued success. As you can tell, it will be hard to replace Jerry Myers, a gentleman that has always striven to help others first. Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring Jerry Myers for his service to Davie County and wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, while many of us in this body disagree on the issue of abortion, we should all be able to agree that, once a child is born, he or she deserves protection. If a doctor attempts to perform an abortion, sometimes a baby actually escapes and emerges from the womb still living. If this real- life scenario isn't terrible enough, sometimes these babies, who are breathing the same air as you and I, are left to die and their lives are terminated right there in the medical facility. Madam Speaker, these surviving children from this terrible procedure need our protection. Back in 2002, President Bush signed a bill that said if an abortion results in the live birth of an infant, that infant is a legal person for all purposes under our laws. However, this law didn't create additional protections for these surviving children. That is why I am urging my colleagues to support Mrs. Blackburn's bill that would add additional protections. Whether it is making sure an infant is immediately taken to a hospital or mandating these doctors do everything they can to save their life, these survivors need our protection.

Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, last year, we voted on a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks. While I supported that bill, many of my colleagues chose not to, but I urge them to at least support this commonsense bill to protect the lives of abortion survivors.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize High Point native Heather Richardson-Bergsma for qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics in speed skating. Holding multiple world records, she will be competing for her first Olympic medal this year. Heather's hunger for speed skating began at an early age. Growing up just a few minutes from our local High Point roller rink, Heather's talents were recognized by a local coach who suggested she start taking inline speed skating classes. Although she was told she must wait a full year before she could compete, her passion and dedication for the sport did not waiver, and a year later she competed in her first race. The Olympics mark crowning achievements in every Olympian's career. The many years, hours, minutes, and seconds they have devoted to training all come down to fulfilled dreams and broken records. Heather's dedication, passion, and perseverance demonstrate the characteristics found in every great athlete. I am proud to recognize Heather today and I wish her the best of luck next month.

Mr. BUDD

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Garrett) for organizing this in support of those protesters in Iran. It is the ongoing protests that started late last month in Iran that are significant not just for their people, but also for the world. While these protests started because of a dire economic situation in Iran, with upwards of 40 percent of its youth unemployed, it has grown to be a nationwide movement that is about much more than just the economy. Over the past couple of weeks, we have seen the Iranian people flood the streets in favor of fundamental freedoms, economic opportunity, and a government that represents their interests, not Hezbollah's. There are even reports of people chanting, ``We don't want an Islamic Republic,'' or, ``We will die, but we will take Iran back.'' This has been a long time coming. A State Department report in 2016 found that Iran is the top state sponsor of terrorism in the whole world. Whether it is providing financial support to Hezbollah or providing arms to Islamic rebel groups in Yemen, the Iranian Government's priorities are obviously more focused on wreaking international havoc than they are on addressing the pressing issues within their own country. And while we are talking about issues with Iran, the protesters are pleading for fundamental freedoms. For example, married women aren't even allowed to travel outside the country without permission from their husbands. They also risk being put in jail or even to death if they take off their hijab in public. But brave women throughout Iran have been unmasking themselves during the last couple of weeks in protest. To many in our country, this may seem insignificant, but videos of these women and their courage have been shared millions and millions of times around the globe. Mr. Speaker, those who dislike President Trump have criticized his approach to foreign policy, but these same people fail to praise his strong defense for freedom when it comes to Iran. As soon as the protests started, President Trump put out a statement that said the Iranian people are hungry for food and for freedom. He also said that it is time for a change, and I couldn't agree with him more. This is the opposite of the Obama administration that preached moral authority and, yet, sided with the corrupt Iranian regime and the corrupt Iranian Government when anti-regime protesters took to the streets back in 2009. So now that President Trump has proven his credibility on the global stage by siding with the protesters, the question is: Now, where do we go from here? Well, Mr. Speaker, first we should increase the sanctions on the Iranian Government in response to their crackdown on protesters for freedom in recent weeks. President Trump should also strongly consider pulling out of the nuclear deal that was struck by President Obama in 2015. We have already seen the Iranian Government break parts of the agreement, and we should have a zero tolerance for these breaks because the consequences are just too grave. Mr. Speaker, the people of Iran are bravely speaking out against their government and they are calling for change. For the United States to continue to be a shining example of freedom and liberty, we must continue to vocalize our support for these protesters in Iran and make sure that they know that we have their back. Again, I thank my colleague, Mr. Garrett from Virginia.