Howard Coble

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. I will be very brief. In thanking Mr. Rahall and Mr. Hunter, I failed to thank the chairman. That is a mistake you should never commit. So I thank you as well, Mr. Shuster. Thanks to all of you.

Mr. COBLE. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California, and I will be very brief. I thank the ranking member, Mr. Rahall, and the chairman of the subcommittee for your generous words. I am not sure that I am deserving, but I am appreciative. I appreciate the diligence which the Coast Guard men and women display daily in the discharge of their duties. There is an old adage that is as old as the Coast Guard, and that is when distress calls are received, the Coast Guard must go out. It says nothing about them coming back. Most of them do come back, but on occasion, they don't. We should always remember that very clearly. Again, I thank you for this honor.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, the recent rumors circulating around Capitol Hill suggest that President Obama may seek advice and counsel from Al Sharpton regarding the identity of our next Attorney General. I hope this is only a rumor. Al Sharpton seeks out matters that involve conflict, turmoil, and violence. I do not recall Al Sharpton appearing at an event where racial harmony was promoted and encouraged. Permit me to compare Al Sharpton with Loretta Lynch, President Obama's recent nominee to become our next Attorney General. Mr. Speaker, I was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and decades later, Loretta Lynch was born in Greensboro. I am about to insert oars into unknown waters to me, that is, Senatorial waters involving judicial nominees. What I know about Loretta Lynch, Mr. Speaker, is limited, but what I do know about her is favorable, and she has been twice confirmed by the United States Senate. Some have compared Al Sharpton with Dr. Martin Luther King, not a good comparison. Dr. King was a unifier, a promoter of racial harmony. The good news is Al Sharpton does not measure up to Dr. Martin Luther King. More good news: Loretta Lynch is no Al Sharpton.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. On that note, Mr. Speaker, I am going to depart. Thank you, Louie.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues know, my middle name is Brevity. If it can be said in 5 minutes, don't take 25 minutes to say it. You all surely do know how to make an old man feel good, and I thank you for this. You have embellished many areas of my life which I have embraced as well. But I must correct what Patrick McHenry said. I do not know every mascot in North Carolina. I think Virginia has given me credit for that too. Thanks to all of you who have taken part in this Special Order. You have made me feel very special, and for that, I thank you.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, colleagues, Representative Adams has served our area in the North Carolina General Assembly in excess of two decades. In Raleigh, she is known as the ``legislative lady with the hat.'' Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present to you and to my colleagues the legislative lady with the hat, Alma Adams from North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from North Carolina, the Honorable Alma S. Adams, be permitted to take the oath of office today. Her certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to her election.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize PRS for Music--the United Kingdom's Performing Rights Society--representing that nation's composers, lyricists and music publishers--on its milestone 100th anniversary. Founded in 1914, the same year as ASCAP, its sister American performing rights organization, PRS for Music has, for a century, championed and protected the rights of music writers and publishers by licensing the public performance of their music. Significantly, via reciprocal agreements with America's performing rights organizations, our friends at PRS for Music have protected our country's music creators by making it possible for American songwriters and composers to receive royalties when their works are performed in the United Kingdom. British music creators who joined the PRS in its early years include Ivor Novello, the writer of ``Keep the Home Fires Burning,'' Noel Coward, writer of ``Mad Dogs and Englishmen,'' Ray Noble, composer of ``The Very Thought of You,'' Jimmy Kennedy, lyricist of ``South of the Border,'' Gustav Holst, composer of The Planets, Benjamin Britten, composer of The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, and pioneering music publishers William Boosey and Oliver Hawkes, who founded the PRS. As time went on, the musical cross-pollination between the United States and the United Kingdom grew more and more intense and PRS songwriters who have made their mark on the USA and the world include the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Phil Collins, and Adele. PRS for Music has played a leading role in the global music industry for 100 years and has weathered every new development in music delivery and musical style. I hope that my colleagues will join me in applauding the significant contributions of PRS for Music and wishing them many more years of success.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that American songwriters are my sweethearts. Their ability to conjure emotion and experience into a tune that can be enjoyed by all rivals any talent in the world. Recently, I sponsored H.R. 4079, the Songwriter Equity Act of 2014, because of the obvious inequity that exists in the rate structure for songwriters and performers. It is my hope that this disparity will be corrected but not solely at the expense, however, of our nation's and my home state's radio and television broadcast stations. The art of songwriting depends on a vibrant workplace, which unfortunately is becoming more and more difficult to find. If we want to continue to lead the world in music, from a cultural and economic perspective, future changes to our copyright laws should be aimed at supporting and helping the American songwriter.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service, dedication and professionalism of Commander, CDR, Bion Stewart, who has served as the U.S. Coast Guard Liaison to the House of Representatives from August 2011 to July 2014. CDR Stewart is a consummate professional and exemplifies the Coast Guard's Corps Values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. Over the last three years CDR Stewart's supreme knowledge of Coast Guard operations and strategic priorities has been invaluable to the Members of the Coast Guard's oversight Committees as we make critical decisions in an austere budget environment. CDR Stewart worked with Committee staff and Coast Guard leadership to prepare for crucial operations, acquisitions, and policy hearings, and was integral in supporting our Subcommittee's efforts in the passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Acts of 2012 and 2014. CDR Stewart's superior expertise in Coast Guard acquisitions and budget priorities was an invaluable resource as the Congress supported the Coast Guard's vital recapitalization and modernization efforts during the 111th, 112th, and 113th Congresses. As the only former Coast Guardsman in Congress, and as a Member of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I am honored to represent the fine men and women of the United States Coast Guard who serve our Nation with distinction. The men and women who serve as Congressional Liaisons take on a monumentally difficult but crucially important challenge; one which is as important to the success of the Coast Guard as the cutter and aircraft crews who protect our waterways every day. I would like to thank CDR Stewart for his dedication and service in this challenging position. He has been a tremendous help to my staff and me. I want to congratulate him on his upcoming promotion to Captain, and wish him fair winds and following seas as he continues his outstanding service to our Nation.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, in sports, winning a championship is an incredible accomplishment. I am proud to announce that Wesleyan Christian Academy, West Stokes High, and Westchester Country Day all recently won state titles. All of these schools are either in the Sixth District of North Carolina or our constituents attend these fine institutions. The softball team at Wesleyan Christian Academy recently won the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A softball championship for the first time in the school's history. The Lady Trojans credit their success to the strong bond the team formed after a fellow teammate experienced a critical medical condition. Players Taylor Bisbee and Taylor Travis received the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit Award for their courageous acts towards their teammate in need. The West Stokes girls' soccer team defeated Washington 2-0 to bring home the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A state title. The Lady Wildcats believe it was their refuse-to-lose attitude that helped them capture the soccer program's first state title: Team captains Taylor Hooper and Tori Van Meter received individual honors. Hooper was named the championship's Most Valuable Player, while Van Meter received the NCHSAA Sportsmanship Award. Westchester Country Day recently won the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2A state championships for baseball and golf. This is the third straight year the baseball team has brought home a state title and is the third in four years for the golf team. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate Wesleyan Christian Academy, West Stokes High, and Westchester Country Day for winning state championships.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the retirement of Coast Guard Commander Kathryn Dunbar. Commander Dunbar, or KD as we affectionately call her, is a native of Columbia, South Carolina, and was graduated from the University of the South and entered Officer's Candidate School in 1992. A true sailor, she is a Coast Guard Cutterman, having served aboard three Buoy Tenders including USCGC Sweetgum in Mobile, Alabama, and USCGC Red Birch in Baltimore, Maryland. She also served as the commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter William Tate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 2001-2003. I was privileged to travel to the City of Brotherly Love to attend her Change of Command when she assumed command of the cutter in 2001. I was pleased to be accompanied by my staffers Missy Branson and Ed McDonald at the ceremonies. Missy and KD were such good friends that they climbed Mount Everest together all the way to the base camp on the Nepal side. CDR Dunbar also served in the Coast Guard Recruiting Command, the Office of Cutter Forces at Coast Guard Headquarters, and at both the National and District Seven Director of Auxiliary Offices. She is best known in Washington, DC, for her exceptional performance of duty in the Coast Guard House of Representatives Liaison Office from 1997-2001. This is where many of my colleagues, my staff and I, came to know KD. She is a true friend, an outstanding Coastie, and as fine a representative of our service as I have seen. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we wish KD, Commander Dunbar, fair winds and following seas.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, in sports, a strong support system can hold the key to success and that is what helped the North Stokes softball team defeat Whiteville 10-1 on Saturday to capture the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1A state softball championship. I am proud to say that the Lady Vikings, who call the Sixth District of North Carolina home, won the title two games to one this past weekend. Knowing the road to success can be a bumpy one, family, friends and other community members lined the streets with signs cheering on the softball team as they headed out for the championship in hopes that their spirit-filled send off would make the sailing a little smoother for the Lady Vikings. The support of the community, however, was not the only helping hand for the team along their journey to the top. The Lady Vikings defense provided the squad with a much-needed edge. The outfield took charge by honing in on multiple drives to alleviate potential extra-base hits. ``Our defense was awesome,'' Head Coach Jeff Frye told the Winston- Salem Journal. ``I thought that played a bigger part in getting us pumped up. I think it just got momentum on our side.'' ``I'm just tickled,'' Vikings Pitcher Lindsay Brown told the Stokes News moments after the victory was secured. She had reason to be happy. Not only did she pitch the title-clinching game, she was also named the series' Most Valuable Player. Coach Frye credits the team's success to their strong ability to face all obstacles. Besides MVP Brown, the team included Sabrina Dodson, Emily Evans, Tana Frye, Chandley Garner, Tristan Hubbard, Hannah Mabe, Hannah McBride, Emily Myers, Heather Nall, Emma Petree, Ashley Smith, and Carson Watkins. The Vikings path to victory was aided by assistant coaches Barry Dodson, Rebecca Gunter, and Randy Shelton. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate Principal Nathan Rasey, Athletic Director Trey Wiggins, the faculty, staff, and students of North Stokes High for winning the 1A state softball championship. In the case of the Lady Vikings, they proved that a strong support system can lead to a championship.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, in sports, success depends heavily on tradition, and the boys' track team at North Stokes High in Stokes County, North Carolina, provided a perfect example of just how important that dependence can be. I am pleased to announce that the North Stokes boys' track team that calls the Sixth District home, recently won the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state lA track and field championships for the first time in the school's history. The Vikings path to victory, however, was not a straight line. The team faced fierce competition--and holding no previous state titles--it seemed the odds were against them. Despite these obstacles the Vikings were able to solidify the top spot after completing the 4x400 meter dash. The team set a personal record of 3:34.26, which they achieved by knocking eight seconds off their previous time. Coach Mike Williams credits the team's success to the program's strong sense of tradition and support from the staff. While winning is important, it is not everything to the North Stokes Vikings. ``We want to see results,'' Coach Williams told the Stokes News, ``but it's also important to us that the kids are having fun.'' Williams said that it took the entire team to bring home the state championship. Members of the team included Colin Anderson, Austin Boyles, Brandon Boyles, Daniel Brown, Cameron Corns, Noah Dike, Dawson Durham, Junior Fulks, James Hammonds, Erin Heath, Justin Kenard, Andy Kopp, Andrew Lankford, Ross Lucia, Kaleb Marshall, Kenny Myers, Laith Nickell, Ottaway Shepard, Kevin Robertson, Jarrett Slate, Mark Tucker, Seth Tucker, Blake Williams, and Dakota Young. Coach Williams guided the Vikings to the top with outstanding help by assistant coaches Rodney King, Jimmy Dillard, Ben Kelble, and Breanna Largen. In addition to the team victory, two Vikings brought home individual titles. Moriah Boyette and Justin Kenard both finished first at the track meet. Boyette won the girls' pole vault competition, while Kenard captured the individual title for North Stokes in the boys' 800-meter On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate Principal Nathan Rasey, Athletic Director Trey Wiggins, the faculty, stag and students of North Stokes High School for winning the lA track and field state championships. The Vikings have started a new tradition of winning at North Stokes High.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I come to the well of the House today to invite support of my bill, H.R. 2357, which addresses the congressional pension program. The congressional pension program becomes vested after 5 years of service, Madam Speaker. I claim to be no expert on pensions, but I know of no pension that vests after 5 years. This would involve a Member to serve not even three complete House terms and not even one complete Senate term. My bill would increase the timeframe from 5 years, presently, to 12 years. At least if my bill became law, a Member would be required to serve six full House terms, two full Senate terms, or a combination thereto. I am disappointed to say, Madam Speaker, that my bill has attracted zero cosponsors, and it has been surfacing for several days now. I am here today to invite every Member of the people's House to warmly embrace and support this bill. You should do so for two reasons: Number one, it will result in reduced public spending; Number two, it would send a message back to our constituents that we are willing and able to reduce our own perks and benefits. I urge every Member of the people's House to come forward, Madam Speaker, and sign his or her name to this bill, and we will go down the path of fiscal sanity and fiscal responsibility before it is too late.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, in sports, when a team is motivated by some outside cause, it can be difficult to defeat. When that team is determined to reach its goal because of a stricken leader, it can be unstoppable. That is exactly how to describe the wrestling team at Morehead High School in Rockingham County, North Carolina. I am proud to say that the Morehead Panthers, who call the Sixth District of North Carolina home, recently won the 3A State Dual Team Wrestling Championship. The Panthers had a theme all season: ``Battling for Bobby.'' The aforementioned Bobby is Bobby Stewart, the former wrestling coach and Morehead's current athletic trainer who was diagnosed with leukemia. Prior to the championship bout, the team unveiled warm-up shirts that read ``Battling for Bobby'' on the front and ``Taking Down Cancer'' on the back. The shirts worked because on February 8, 2014, Morehead defeated Fred T. Foard High School 33-28 to capture the state wrestling championship in the 3A Class. Bobby Stewart's illness focused the team all season as the Panthers compiled a 38-1 season on their way to a state crown. Morehead senior wrestler Payton Mills, who was named the championship's Most Outstanding Wrestler and won the opening match, gives much of the credit to Coach Stewart. ``If it weren't for Bobby,'' Mills told the Reidsville Review, ``I wouldn't currently be wrestling at all, let alone winning Most Outstanding Wrestler of the state duals. Mainly, I wanted to do everything I could to help my team win a state championship for Bobby because he's been such a huge influence on how I live my life today.'' First-year Head Coach Daniel Bradford also told the Rockingham County newspaper that the Panthers seemed to be a team of destiny. ``This is what we work toward all season,'' Bradford said, ``and it's great to see all of that work pay off like this. I knew coming into this season that we had a very strong lineup, with a lot of great wrestlers. But it was more than that. It was a lot of great men. From the very first tournament of the year, I knew we were going to be tough and the only goal for us was to have a chance to win this title.'' Coach Bradford will be the first to tell you that it took the entire team to win the state championship. Members of the squad included Alex Bailey, Gideon Biggs, George Blackstock, Willis Booth, Tyler Bruins, Ben Bullins, Will Dabbs, Tyler Dabbs, Zane Hairston, Tylon Hodges, Steven Holland, Mike Jones, Jordan Jones, Dylan Jones, Jadakiss Jumper, Henrik Kummert, Payton Mills, Marqe Mills, Tyshawn Olverson, John Phillips, William Pryor, Cameron Sanders, Christian Santos, Jordan Servie, Wesley Strader, Dylan Willey, Tim Woods, and Alex Villa. Aiding Coach Bradford in guiding the Panthers to the top included assistant coaches Marty White, Terry Mason, Chris Higgs, Chris Johnson, David Barker, and Robbie Horton. Team doctors Kevin Howard and John Dabbs, along with team trainers Bobby Stewart and Darrell Carter, made sure the Panthers overcame any injuries or illnesses on the path to glory. The Morehead Wrestlerettes made sure the Panthers heard the crowd cheering them on to victory. The Wrestlerettes included Hope Booth, Anne Fitts, Rachel Gallardo, Destiny Smith, and Hannah Thompson, along with their sponsors Donna Gallardo and Shiela Thompson, and Booster Club president Carl Booth. On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate Principal Al Royster, Jr., Athletic Director Jason Tuggle, and the faculty, staff, and students of Morehead High School for winning the 3A State Dual Team Wrestling Championship. The Panthers said they were ``Battling for Bobby'' and they lived up to that motto all the way to the top.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished friend from North Carolina (Mr. Price). I appreciate that. You have already indicated where Mel is going to be going. I hope he won't ignore us when he meets us on the streets or in these Halls. I don't think he will. Mel and I have shared several counties in North Carolina for nearly two decades. We both sat as members of the House Judiciary Committee for also two decades. Mel, we wish you and your family best wishes.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, on the June 13 of this year, I introduced a bill, H.R. 2357, to provide that Members must complete 12 years of credible service to become vested into the retirement system. I have not professed to be an expert on pensions, Mr. Speaker, but 5 years appear to be very generous. So in my bill I had extended that from the 5-year timeframe to 12 years. Taxpayers subsidize this plan. I believe by increasing the minimum timeframe, I think it would, obviously, result in considerable savings. I have conducted no survey to support that, but commonsense tells me that. In fact, this is a commonsense proposal. For example, Mr. Speaker, a Member of Congress now must complete only 5 years of credible service to become vested. I know of no plan, other than this one, that would vest at 5 years. Such a Member would be required, if my bill is enacted, to complete at least 12 years of service prior to becoming vested. I figured after 4 or 5 weeks I would have attracted at least 20 to 25 cosponsors. Today, I have no cosponsors. So, to walk you through how it would work if my plan is adopted, a Member of the Congress must complete not 5 years, but 12 years of service. That can be done through six 2-year House terms or two 6-year Senate terms or a combination thereof. It is a commonsense proposal. Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, I will anxiously await the knock on the door for cosponsors willing to sign up. The welcome mat is out. It is a good proposal.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I support the Goodlatte bill, and I oppose the gentleman from Kentucky's amendment. This is a commonsense provision that cures one of the patent troll abuses. These suits against customers target the wrong people. Patent owners should be suing the people who actually made the product, not the retailer who sold it or the customer who uses it. How on Earth is the owner of a coffee shop supposed to know how a router works? I don't know how a router works. Why would we expect someone who didn't build it to defend a claim that it infringes? For this reason, Max Bibo's deli in Wethersfield, Connecticut, supports this legislation. I am not sure any patent bill before the Congress has ever won the support of a delicatessen, but this one does. Chairman Goodlatte's bill addresses it, so I support the bill, and I oppose the amendment.

Mr. COBLE

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3626, currently under consideration.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) for his generous words, and I appreciate them. General Leave

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 3626, a bill to extend the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988 for 10 years. In 1988, Congress passed the original law that makes it illegal to manufacture, import, sell, ship, deliver, possess, transfer, or receive any firearm that is not detectable by walk-through metal detection, or any firearm with major components that do not generate an accurate image before standard airport imaging technology. The original act passed in 1988, Mr. Speaker, and had a 10-year sunset clause which expired November 10, 1998. Congress renewed the law for 5 years in 1998 and for 10 years in 2003. The law will sunset on December 9, 2013, if it is not reauthorized again. The original law received overwhelming bipartisan support, and so did each subsequent renewal. I urge my colleagues to support this extension, and I reserve the balance of my time.