Steve Chabot

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this resolution, which curtails the President's authority to protect American interests in the Middle East. Two weeks ago, Iranian proxies launched a missile attack on American forces in Iraq. This was the 11th such rocket attack by the Iranians in recent months. This time, as our leader said, it killed Nawres Hamid, who was a husband, a father, a contractor, and an American citizen. The man behind this attack and additional attacks that were being planned and that were imminent was the terrorist mastermind Qasem Soleimani, who was responsible for the deaths, as we have heard, of at least 600, probably many more, Americans and for thousands of others in that part of the world, and for causing destabilization throughout the entire region. For years now, Soleimani had been leading Iran's shadow war against us and against our allies. In targeting Soleimani, President Trump took bold, long-overdue action, and he ought to be supported for this decision, not criticized. This resolution, by condemning even limited military force and limited action, would essentially tie the President's hands behind his back as he tries to counter Iran's shadow campaign against us. Madam Speaker, it makes no sense, this resolution, and I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose it and vote against it.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5078, the Prison to Proprietorship Act, as amended. Before I speak on our first bill, I thank Chairwoman Velazquez for continuing our tradition in the Small Business Committee that we have had over recent years of emphasizing bipartisanship. I thank her for that. It is Democrats and Republicans really working together to pass legislation that is beneficial to the vast majority of Americans, whatever their political inclinations may be. It is something that we have been working on for years in the committee, and I thank her for that. Once again, we have four strong bills here that came out of the Small Business Committee. Our first two bills focus on fostering entrepreneurship among the soon-to-be or formerly incarcerated. Last fall, we held a hearing that featured compelling testimony about the power of entrepreneurship and how that power can help people looking to get their lives back on track after having been incarcerated. These individuals typically face higher rates of unemployment than any other segment of our population, not surprisingly, really. Providing worthy individuals an outlet for their entrepreneurial spirit not only helps them to reacclimate to society but also boosts our economy, and it benefits many local communities all across this Nation. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that almost half of all U.S. prisoners, unfortunately, are without access to vocational training programs. Studies show that inmates who go through vocational training programs are much less likely to commit additional crimes when they get out. So it just makes sense for us to emphasize these training programs. This bill directs the Association of Women's Business Centers and the Association of Small Business Development Centers to coordinate reentry entrepreneurship services by providing counseling and training services that focus on individuals who have been incarcerated in Federal prison. This bill will create a pathway for qualified ex-offenders to be successful, contributing members of society, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Madam Speaker, again, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for working with us and collaborating with us on this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation that can help unlock the power of entrepreneurship for people who either are about to be incarcerated or have been. It makes sense to give them a chance, rather than have them on a path where they are going to be in prison, get out, and commit more crimes, which are going to harm society as well as mess up their lives severely, as well. This legislation is something that we have before us and can pass. It is good for the country, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5065, the Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act. As our committee heard in a hearing on this topic last fall, up to 60 percent of people released from prison will remain unemployed after a year. It is not surprising, then, that half of all former inmates recidivate. In other words, they commit another crime after they have been released within 3 years of release from prison. This is not good for them, and it is certainly not good for society. We want these former prisoners to be constructive members of our communities. Small business ownership can provide steady employment to nonviolent individuals, which can drastically lower the risk of recidivism. This bill, H.R. 5065, the Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act, directs the SBA Administrator to work with the Bureau of Prisons to provide entrepreneurship counseling and training services for those who have served time in Federal prison. This counseling will be conducted by SCORE, a resource partner of the SBA and the Nation's largest network of volunteer expert business mentors, with more than 10,000 volunteers in 300 chapters. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries) for their bipartisan work on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), and I thank him for his leadership on this legislation.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I have no further Members seeking time, and I am prepared to close if the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) is prepared as well.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, entrepreneurship has the power to equip those returning from incarceration with tools to overcome barriers to employment, which they often face upon their release. Recidivism rates in America remain today, unfortunately, alarmingly high; yet, entrepreneurship can be a pathway to success and an antidote to recidivism for the formerly incarcerated. This bill is designed to help individuals reacclimate to society, utilizing their desire to start and own a small business. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5130, the Capturing All Small Businesses Act of 2019. Our next two bills focus on a longstanding goal of our committee: increasing small business access to the Federal marketplace. The U.S. Government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world. It is very important that small businesses have ample opportunity to compete for Federal contracts. A vibrant small business presence in Federal contracting increases competition, increases quality, and, most importantly, lowers prices for the American taxpayer. All of these things are good. This bipartisan legislation will make it easier for small firms to compete against larger firms. Madam Speaker, this bipartisan legislation will increase our small businesses, and it will encourage them to grow successfully and competitively into the midsize marketplace. We have heard too many stories of small businesses successfully providing significant value to the Federal Government and growing at a steady pace only to hit a wall once they grow out of their small size threshold. We need to ensure that there is a pathway for sustained development for our Nation's small manufacturers, and this bill takes us a step in the right direction. I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Kevin Hern), the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey), who all worked together and showed great leadership on this issue and, again, did it in a bipartisan manner. So I thank all three of them. Madam Speaker, I urge the bill's adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield such as he may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Kevin Hern) and thank him for his leadership in working on this legislation.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) and thank him, also, for his leadership in working on this important legislation.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, in closing, this bipartisan bill allows small firms to have the additional time, as a small business, to solidify their competitiveness and infrastructure and achieve greater success when they eventually must compete against much larger companies. After all, about 70 percent of the jobs created in America are created by small businesses, so we need to help them in every way we can. Madam Speaker, I want to thank all of the Members who spoke here this afternoon on the floor for their leadership in this important area. I would urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5146, the Unlocking Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2019, as amended. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Hagedorn), and the two gentlemen from Pennsylvania, Dr. Joyce and Mr. Evans, for their leadership on this legislation and, again, working together in a bipartisan manner, which will reduce significant barriers to small contractors in the Federal marketplace. As we have heard from our colleagues, obtaining relevant, past- performance information is critical for a small business to be competitive for a contractor award. Unfortunately, Federal agencies take a narrow view on what they might consider as relevant past performance for a prime contract opportunity. This limits a small business' ability to compete for contracts that they would otherwise be a perfect fit for, which is detrimental both to the small business and to the government. In short, the important thing for a Federal agency to know is whether a business is capable of successfully completing the specific task being requested. If the small business can show that it has successfully performed that type of work in the past, it should be able to use that as evidence that it can complete the task in the future. It is that simple. This bill will not only unlock prime contracting opportunities for small businesses, but it will also have the additional positive impact of eventually growing the industrial base, increasing competition, and, again, most importantly, lowering costs to the taxpayer. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Hagedorn), and I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this legislation.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce). I thank him for his leadership and for working so hard on this legislation.

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, again, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Hagedorn) and the two gentlemen from Pennsylvania, Mr. Evans and Dr. Joyce, for their leadership on this important piece of legislation. Increasing Federal contracting opportunities for small firms is a win-win situation. The taxpayers get better value from their tax dollars, and small firms grow and spur our economy forward. This is really commonsense, bipartisan legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it, and again, I thank the gentlewoman from New York, the chairwoman of the committee, who, once again, has shown that she is working together in a collegial and bipartisan fashion. We really do appreciate that. That is one of the reasons that all four of the bills we have taken up this afternoon have had both Republicans and Democrats working together. That doesn't happen in every committee, but it does happen in the Small Business Committee, and I thank her for that. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, today is a sad day in our Nation's history as House Democrats are poised to approve, on a strictly party-line vote, Articles of Impeachment based on what constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley called wafer-thin evidence. This will set a dangerous precedent where impeachment becomes the norm rather than the exception. That is not what our Founding Fathers intended. They wanted impeachment to be rare. They set a high bar for impeachment: treason, bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors. Alleged abuse of power, the first article, is not a high crime and misdemeanor. In fact, that is not even a crime. And since there is no concise legal definition of abuse of power, the majority party in the House can designate nearly any disagreement with the President from now on an impeachable offense. The second article, alleged obstruction of Congress, would produce a similarly dangerous precedent. Asserting executive privilege, a practice that began with George Washington, is not obstruction of Congress; rather, it is a function of the essential checks and balances contemplated under the Constitution. Here is what nearly every grade school student in America knows but, apparently, House Democrats do not: If Congress disagrees with the President, if they don't agree with the President, take it to court. Let the third branch of government decide. They are the refs. The House has never--I repeat, never--approved either abuse of power or obstruction of Congress as an Article of Impeachment, but that is going to change today. Today, House Democrats are pursuing a wacky constitutional theory under which all four Presidents on Mount Rushmore could have been impeached. If all of this sounds absurd, Madam Speaker, it is because it is absurd. In fact, this whole process is absurd and has been from the outset. But here is what is not absurd but, rather, frightening: House Democrats, today, are setting a dangerous precedent under which no future President will be immune from impeachment, and that will forever negatively tarnish the history of this House.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to congratulate my alma mater, La Salle High School, for winning their fourth Ohio Division II football championship in the last 6 years. They defeated a tough Masillon Washington High School team 34-17. I was particularly pleased to see La Salle bring home another championship since I played defensive line for the Lancers back in the day, and my brother, Dave, 10 years later, played defensive back. Congratulations to Coach Pat McLaughlin, his coaching staff, the players, parents, students, and fans. You made the school and all of Cincinnati proud. Lancers roll deep. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to congratulate the Cincinnati Elder Panthers, who had a great season as well but came up just short of winning the Ohio Division I championship. My nephews, Joey and Mikey Del Prince, played for Elder a few years back. Don't get too down, guys. You will get them next year. Go Panthers.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, as co-chair of the U.S.-Kazakhstan Congressional Caucus, I am pleased to rise today to welcome Kazakhstan's newly-appointed Foreign Minister, Mukhtar Tileuberdi, to the U.S. Capitol during his inaugural visit to Washington, D.C. this week. Minister Tileuberdi is an experienced Kazakh diplomat and statesman. Throughout his career, he was posted in Kazakhstan's diplomatic missions in South Korea, Israel, and served as Ambassador to Malaysia with concurrent accreditation to Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and the Philippines. He also served as Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Swiss Confederation and with concurrent accreditation to the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Vatican. Additionally, he served as the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. I look forward to working with the Minister in his new role, as we continue to grow the important bilateral relationship between Kazakhstan and the United States. Madam Speaker, as you may know, the United States and Kazakhstan held first meeting of the U,S.-Kazakhstan Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue in January 2018, following former President Nazarbayev's visit to Washington. The most recent series of these bilateral talks took place last week and focused heavily on continued cooperation on issues of aviation, counterterrorism, and information sharing, among other topics. Along with my fellow co-chair of the U.S.-Kazakhstan Caucus, we look forward to our meeting with Minister Tileuberdi to discuss how the United States and Kazakhstan can continue to promote security and stability across Central Asia through Kazakhstan's strong support for nuclear non-proliferation as well the U.S.-Kazakhstan Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue, military cooperation, and C5+1 multilateral meetings. Cooperation between the United States and Kazakhstan has never been stronger. Kazakhstan has been a strategic partner in Afghanistan and in the fight against violent extremism, and has been a leader in repatriating foreign fighters and their families from Syria and Iraq. On behalf of my fellow U.S.-Kazakhstan Caucus members, we welcome the opportunity to deepen the bilateral partnership, and we look forward to hosting future presidential and high-level delegation visits on Capitol Hill.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. As the senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as a former chairman of the Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee, I rise today in opposition to H. Res. 326, legislation that I believe is biased against Israel. To understand this resolution, it must be taken in context. In July, this House overwhelmingly passed H. Res. 246, which condemned efforts to delegitimize Israel. It also reaffirmed our support for a two-state solution. A mere 5 months later, we are considering this redundant legislation when we should be talking about the National Defense Authorization Act, funding the government, prescription drug prices, the opioid epidemic, so many other things. Instead, House Democrats find it more important to rebuke the Trump administration because it took the position that Jewish settlements in the West Bank are not illegal. What is really happening here is this resolution is meant to paper over a deep division within the Democratic Party between responsible voices who understand the importance of our relationship with Israel, and many of those are here today speaking, and a campus radical left that pushes BDS, welcomes anti-Semitic attacks on Israel, and believes that Israel is the problem while the Palestinians are just helpless victims. Forceful, principled Democratic leadership would take seriously their responsibility to educate the public and clear up these misbegotten notions. Instead, they have opted to cover over this serious problem with their flawed legislation today. That is most unfortunate. Further, the resolution itself is fatally deficient in a number of ways. Again, context is critical. The resolution completely ignores the reason why the two-state solution has never gotten off the ground: venomous voices among the Palestinians don't want two states. They want one, a Palestinian state. The blame falls squarely on these pernicious forces. Just look at the recent round of rocket attacks from Gaza. That is why we shouldn't rule out other options by saying two states is the only possible solution, as this resolution does. It gives the Palestinians a vote over Israel's future, and we shouldn't let that happen. Additionally, by raising the issues of settlements and annexation without serious criticism of Palestinian terrorism and intransigence, which far outweighs anything that Israel has done, this resolution buys into the narrative of the campus left that Israel is the perpetrator and the Palestinians are just victims, an anti-Semitic narrative. Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I oppose this resolution, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote against it. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin) for his leadership on this.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) for his leadership on this particular piece of legislation that I am going to discuss now. I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1663. Put simply, this bill helps to support those Federal attorneys who prosecute major drug traffickers, white-collar criminals, and others who commit Federal crimes and those Federal judges who preside over cases heard in their courtrooms. In a few short months, the Federal Bar Association will celebrate the centennial anniversary of its founding. It was founded with a mission to promote and support legal research and education, to advance the science of jurisprudence, to facilitate the administration of justice, and to foster improvements in the practice of Federal law. Back in 1954, Congress chartered the Federal Bar Association, but in the decades since receiving its charter, it has neither been updated nor amended. As a former educator and attorney and current senior member of the Judiciary Committee myself, I recognize, as many of my colleagues do, the important work that the Federal Bar Association does to bring civics education to classrooms in my State of Ohio and throughout the country. Without legislation like this, H.R. 1663, it would take, literally, an act of Congress to allow the Federal Bar Association to make simple changes to its bylaws. More specifically, this legislation gives the association the ability to choose the location of its principal office, restricts its officers from engaging in political activity, and makes other technical changes to conform to commonly used language used by other congressionally chartered groups. This legislation being considered today serves to provide the Federal Bar Association with the ability to continue its important work and scholarship in communities throughout the country. Finally, I want to again thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) for his support of H.R. 1663, and I want to thank both Chairman Nadler and Ranking Member Collins for bringing it to the floor today for consideration. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 3537, the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2019. Mr. Speaker, before I speak on the bill, I want to again thank Chairwoman Velazquez, who is unable to be with us, so then the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider), for running our committee in such a bipartisan fashion. Today we have yet another strong package of five bills that are fully bipartisan. So, again, I want to make sure that we recognize that we all have a seat at the table on that committee. Today's five bills focus on our Nation's heroes, our veterans, service-disabled veterans, reservists, National Guard members, and their spouses. Last month, four veterans testified before our committee and reminded us of the incredible contributions those who have served our country make. They have made extraordinary sacrifices, put their lives on the line, and kept our country safe. Their service to our Nation doesn't always stop when they separate from the military. Increasingly, veterans are choosing to open their own small businesses. Research has shown that servicemembers are especially qualified to start running their own firms. While serving in the military, they learn to make good decisions in chaotic circumstances, and are confident, driven, and natural leaders. There are a myriad of programs and services across the Federal Government that assist veterans who start businesses after leaving the military. At the Small Business Committee, we have the unique opportunity to support our Nation's veterans as they embark on their next adventure: business ownership. The SBA offers funding, training, and Federal contracting resources tailored to meet the needs of our veterans. We are committed to making the SBA's programs and services more accessible to our Nation's veteran entrepreneurs. At the hearing from earlier this year titled, ``Continuing to Serve: From Military to Entrepreneur,'' we heard firsthand from veteran small business owners that entrepreneurship has empowered current and former servicemembers and their spouses. The Boots to Business Program is a first step in their journey. Originally launched in 2012, the Boots to Business Program offers transitioning servicemembers and military spouses information about self-employment and business ownership. Participants complete a 2-day, in-person entrepreneurship program and can access additional training through online courses. H.R. 3537, the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2019, codifies the Boots to Business Program, solidifying a crucial piece of veteran entrepreneurs' support network. Through this program, participants are introduced to the SBA and its resource partners, who will have their back as they experience new challenges of business ownership. The program's success is a statement to interagency collaboration, and we can give veterans the holistic support they deserve. Mr. Speaker, this bill is another product of our committee's bipartisan cooperation, as I mentioned before, and I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Spano) for working together to increase business opportunities for our Nation's heroes. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Spano), and I want to thank him for his leadership on this legislation.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson), and I want to commend him for his leadership on this as well.

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further Members seeking time. If the gentleman is prepared to close, we will close now. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend, again, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Spano) and Mr. Balderson for their leadership on this bill, which works to increase business opportunities for our Nation's veterans. As Mr. Balderson just mentioned, many of us attended various Veterans Day events earlier this week, and I think he is absolutely right: this is something where we can continue every day of the year to help those who really do seek to start a business, to grow a business, and create more jobs for veterans and for other members of American society. Mr. Speaker, I urge its support. It is bipartisan legislation. It supports our Nation's veterans. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CHABOT

Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3661, the Patriotic Employer Protection Act of 2019. Mr. Speaker, nearly half of all employees in the United States work for a small business. These employees come from every State and territory, and every congressional district. Many of them also serve our Nation proudly. When these men and women are called up for military duty, the small business that they work for may be at a disadvantage due to their absence. If a small business experiences an economic loss due to the essential employee being called up to duty, the small business has the ability to apply for a Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan through the SBA. To modernize this loan program, H.R. 3661, this bill, adds employees who are also on full-time National Guard duty to the eligibility list. This reform further aligns this SBA program with the way today's military operates. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kim) for working in a bipartisan manner on behalf of the Nation's military servicemembers. Additionally, I thank the chairwoman, as usual, for moving this legislation forward in a bipartisan manner. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, which was favorably reported out of committee via voice vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.