K. Conaway

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to come down here tonight to speak about Barbara Bush and the Bush family. As my colleague said, I represent Midland and Odessa, two communities that are linked to the Bush legacy through their living in Odessa for a while, then moving to Midland. George W. Bush and I were business partners in the oil business for about 5 years. So while I had limited or no direct contact with his mom, I got to see the product of her childrearing by working with him on a daily basis for 5 years. Mrs. Bush brought to the table that incredibly terrific blend of being a woman who was strong but compassionate, loved her family, stunningly protective of her family, yet steel-willed when she needed to be; didn't suffer fools well when they were doing things that she didn't like, but did it with grace and dignity in ways that all of us should try to aspire to do it. They do leave a legacy in Midland. Midland still considers them their First Family. We have a museum in Odessa commemorating their home from when they lived in Odessa. We also have the Bush home in Midland that has been turned into a museum, and we are working hard to get that moved over to the Parks and Recreation Department so that it can be properly maintained and as a good example. But I don't have a lot to say tonight that has not already been said, other than the fact that I am honored to be able to say these things and to just say that all of us should aspire to have the kind of legacy that Barbara Bush has left. She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother. All of those things she did with incredible excellence and style. But she was also her own woman and leaves that legacy as well, of what strong women can do; what they mean to the strength of a family; what they mean to a community that she lived in. Whether it was Midland or Houston or here in Washington, D.C., as First Lady, she did it the right way every time. And our Nation is better for having had her. I suspect that Abigail Adams has welcomed her with open arms, as being the only two women to be the wife of one President and a mother of another, and that is a pretty select group that Mrs. Bush and Abigail Adams, both of whom have had great impacts on the legacy of this country. Again, thank you, Barbara Bush, for all that you did. I know her family grieves, but it is a bittersweet grief, knowing that a life lived really well for 92 years is something to be very proud of.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr Speaker, I rise today to recognize two Medal of Honor recipients, PFC Leo J. Powers and 2LT Robert Craig, who will be included on the Ft. Wolters Medal of Honor Memorial in Mineral Wells, Texas on April 28, 2018. Established in 2013, the Medal of Honor Memorial lies at the heart of the quiet Ft. Wolters Historical park. This memorial features stone columns currently features the names of sixteen Medal of Honor recipients who trained at Ft. Wolters inscribed upon them. These inscriptions share the stories of these heroes and the gallant actions they took to earn this honor. Later this month, two more individuals will be inscribed on this memorial, PFC Leo J Powers and 2LT Robert Craig. On February 3, 1944, PFC Leo was serving in the 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, who were heavily engaged with Axis Forces in the Battle of Monte Cassino. PFC Powers' company was assigned to seize the heavily defended Hill 175. The Germans suppressed Powers and his fellow soldiers by firing mortars and heavy machine gun fire. Unable to advance and casualties mounting, Powers crawled towards the enemy strongholds and destroyed them using hand grenades. After destroying the last of these posts, Powers took the surrender of four wounded Germans while unarmed Almost a year later, President Franklin D Roosevelt awarded Powers with the Medal of Honor on January 10, 1945. Born in Scotland in 1919, Robert Craig emigrated with his family to Toledo Ohio. In 1941, Craig enlisted in the Army before WWII and becoming a citizen. By 1943, Craig commissioned as an officer and was a Second Lieutenant with the 15th Infantry Regiment, part of the 3rd Infantry Division. In the early morning of July 10, 1943, 2LT Craig stormed ashore with his unit in the Licata area on the Gulf of Gela during the Invasion of Sicily. Over the next twenty-four hours, an enemy machine gun wounded multiple officers in Craig's unit. He volunteered to find and destroy it Shortly after, the platoon he led was counter-attacked by an enemy force that was three times larger. He used himself as a diversion to allow his men to reach cover along a hill crest. 2LT Craig's heroic actions and self-sacrifice inspired his men and rallied them to defeat the superior force. 2LT Craig was posthumously awarded our nation's highest honor on May 26, 1944. We are blessed to live in a country with individuals like the ones honored at Ft. Wolters Their actions embody our nation's greatest ideals. They proceeded without hesitation to put their country's needs, and more importantly, the lives of the men around them, before their own. Their stories of honor and sacrifice represent an important part of our nation's history. It is with great pleasure and honor that I am able to share PFC Leo J. Powers and 2LT Robert Craig story with all of my colleagues in the House.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for allowing me to speak this evening. Today, we introduced H.R. 2, which is the Agricultural Nutrition Act of 2018. H.R. 1 was the tax bill, and so leadership, the Speaker in particular, believed that this issue is important enough that he gave us that rare opportunity to have a single-digit bill number. My colleagues will join us tonight at the microphone and we will talk about more of the details, but 3 years ago we began this quest to reform SNAP. We wanted to start with basically as blank a sheet of paper as we could get. We didn't want to be constrained by spending or resources. We just wanted to find the best policy we could possibly get to so it would let us know our guideposts. We did that. We had it scored. It comes in at a budget-neutral position, which is what our commitment to the broader conference was, and accomplished that on not only SNAP, but also with the rest of the title as well. We did six listening sessions around the country this past year. Three-hundred-plus good citizens stepped to the microphone to speak to Members of Congress about what was on their heart, what was working with the farm bill, all aspects of it. I specifically remember a young woman who stood at the microphone, incredibly brave young lady, who said: I am the reason that SNAP needs to stay in place. She said: I was 18 years old, a single mother of a 3-year-old, and I didn't like my future, and I wanted to go to college. And SNAP and the other benefits that were available, her hard work, her sweat equity, but, yes, our helping hand up allowed her to get a college education. She became an educator. She then got an advanced degree and is now in administration. She said for her and her daughter, public assistance is now defined by what they do for other folks as opposed to what gets done for them. That is the success we want to drive. That is how we want to measure SNAP and all of our programs as against a yardstick that says we want to give folks a helping hand up. We want folks to break that cycle of poverty. I believe that the good policies we put in place with the SNAP program that were released today, as people begin to understand what we are doing and begin to understand a bunch of the misinformation that has been in the public arena over the last several weeks about what we were trying to do, that that will dissipate and our colleagues across both sides of the aisle will see the wisdom of what we are going to do with respect to SNAP. I am proud of the work that we have done. I am particularly proud of G.T. Thompson's leadership the last year on our Nutrition Subcommittee. He has done incredibly good work, and I am looking forward to him and my other colleagues continuing this process. The bill we introduced today is a work in progress, and it is not what will get to the President's desk; but we are excited about the process of marking it up in committee, coming to this House floor, having those fulsome conversations with our colleagues about what is working, what is not working, and then getting this to the President's desk once the Senate does their work. So a great step forward for the Agriculture Committee today. I am proud of the work we have done and look forward to working with my colleagues to get this even further along the path.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a staple of the San Angelo community and an invaluable asset on my team, Mrs. JoAnne Powell. Later this week, she'll be honored as the 2017 Special Friends of Conservation by the Tom Green Soil & Water Conservation Board. JoAnne has assisted constituents in the Concho Valley throughout my entire tenure, a service that started in 1984 while working for then Rep. Tom Loeffler and eventually Rep. Lamar Smith. Since then, JoAnne has tirelessly worked with constituents on issues they may be experiencing with federal agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, the VA, and the NRCS. The relationships JoAnne has built with these agencies have led to thousands of these cases being resolved for these constituents. JoAnne also serves as coordinator for our annual service academy application nominations, which is a year-round process for her. With JoAnne's assistance, many of the young men and women in our district go on to serve our nation and attend one of our distinguished service academies. Through her big heart and drive to serve Tom Green County, JoAnne works closely with many agriculture groups that support West Texas. Her compassion and dedication has made her a special member of my team. I congratulate JoAnne, and cannot think of a more deserving recipient of this year's Special Friends of Conservation Award.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Utah. While I am not unappreciative of my colleague from California's comments, I do think we are at a place where we do need to move forward. If we succumb to the emotions of what is going on around us and don't stick to the facts, stick to what we are trying to get done, I think that we do that to our detriment. So I have great respect for my colleague and his opinions, but I personally believe that plays into the emotions of what is going on rather than the facts of what is going on. If we can, I believe we should just continue to push forward. First, let me say that the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act is a bipartisan compromise bill that preserves the operational flexibility of section 702 while instituting key reforms to further protect U.S. personal privacy. One of the major issues discussed over the past year has been NSA's ``abouts communication'' collection--a tortured title, but, nevertheless, we will stick with the phrase, ``abouts communication.'' So ``abouts communication'' collection takes place in NSA's upstream collection and, due to how the internet communications work, allows NSA to collect the communications that may reference a section 702 target's email address. Despite what some of my colleagues may push in their propaganda, ``abouts'' collection does not collect names of targets, just selectors. Some of my colleagues also suggest that ``abouts communication'' is inherently in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While the FISA court has raised concerns about ``abouts communication'' collections in the past, NSA has been able to conduct such collections with the approval of the FISA court. This type of collection is at issue today because it was the subject to a compliance incident in 2016. NSA self-reported a problem to the FISA court and decided to cease ``abouts communication'' collection until a fix could be implemented and demonstrated to the court. I would like to note that that type of self-reporting of compliance incidents is expected of the intelligence community elements and proves that oversight mechanisms are in place and that they work. Other potential legislation, including the amendments to today's base bill, would seek to permanently end ``abouts communication'' collection. This is a shortsighted and a dangerous proposition that will limit the NSA's ability to identify threat networks in the future. Rather than ending ``abouts communication'' collection, S. 139 strikes, I believe, that right balance. If NSA wants to reestablish ``abouts communication'' collection, NSA would first need to go back to court, convince the judge that it has satisfied the court's concerns. After achieving judicial approval that NSA has made the necessary technical changes, NSA would then brief congressional Intelligence and Judiciary Committees on how they plan to reinstitute this type of collection. Barring congressional action, NSA can then start ``abouts communication'' collection, 30 days after those briefings. Some of our opponents to S. 139 claim that 30 days is not enough. To the folks that claim that 30 days is not enough, there is nothing stopping Congress from acting after that 30-day window. However, NSA should not be penalized and America's security should not be compromised and prevented from obtaining valuable foreign intelligence information that the FISA court has deemed consistent with the Fourth Amendment just because Congress can't pass legislation in 30 days. This compromise of the bill that is on the floor today, I believe, is the right answer, and I hope my colleagues will support S. 139.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``No'' on Mr. Espaillat's Motion to Adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Nay'' on rollcall No. 5.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue that is receiving a lot of attention both in the media and in the House Agriculture Committee, and that is our Nation's largest anti-hunger problem, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. As we approach the upcoming farm bill, I would offer a brief perspective, something that I have been keeping in the front of my mind throughout all of these conversations. Mr. Speaker, SNAP is about families that are living paycheck to paycheck here in our Nation. It is about helping households across this country, not so much worry about where the next meal is coming from, but letting them worry more about their children's education, their own work, and, quite frankly, their own future. It is about helping every citizen realize the American Dream by modernizing a program that helps lift folks out of poverty, rather than trapping them there. Mr. Speaker, this will not be easy. There will be people who demonize our efforts. Some will even criticize the process. We will have those who paint doomsday scenarios about what we are trying to get done. Some will say it is too much, too soon, and too fast. Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. Our committee has spent 3 years examining every aspect of this program. We have heard from citizens across this Nation who have been helped by SNAP, and we identified modest improvements that we believe will better serve those in greatest need. Mr. Speaker, we must get this policy right. As I said, we must get this policy right. I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that these reforms are about maintaining the American value of generosity, a generosity that says no American should go to bed hungry each night. But, Mr. Speaker, it also strengthens that great American tradition of self-efficiency that compels us to work to improve our own stations in life. By doing this, by modernizing SNAP, by making these changes that incentivize work, encouraging collaboration, and promote and improve access, we will be ensuring better nutrition for our American families. And, as budgets tighten in our country and across this government, we will be preserving a program that must be preserved for future generations.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman holding this hour tonight. In September of this year, we celebrated the 230th birthday of our Constitution, a document that has provided for the governance of this great people for 230 years. The history behind that was that the States in 1787 decided that the Articles of Confederation were not properly forming a nation that could protect itself properly. So they sent really smart men to Philadelphia to fine-tune--or tweak--the Articles of Confederation. James Madison and others had a different idea. They locked the doors, they went into closed session, and they came forth with a Constitution that we have lived under for the next 230 years. Benjamin Franklin, who was the oldest Framer, emerged from that experience and was asked by a woman, whom we think was named Mrs. Powell. She said: Good Doctor, what have you given us, a monarchy or a republic? He looked her in the eye and said: ``Madam, a republic, if you can keep it.'' That is a daunting phrase, Mr. Speaker, and it is one that carries forward now for 230 years. It never ends. It is not a one-and-done circumstance. So the question arises: How, in fact, do we keep a republic? Mr. Speaker, only a free, self-governing people can keep a republic. As was previously quoted by my colleague from Louisiana, John Adams wrote that only a moral and religious people can self-govern. Mr. Speaker, as I look at our Nation today, I am deeply concerned that we are losing that moral high ground to be able to maintain the moral authority, in fact, to self-govern. We each say the Pledge of Allegiance often. There is a line in that pledge that says, ``One nation under God,'' with no comma. Mr. Speaker, think about that juxtaposition, ``One nation under God.'' What does God see when He sees our Nation today? What does He see in America that can, in fact, please Him? He sees a nation that has come to accept the killing of 57 million babies in the last 44 years. He has seen a nation whose family units are breaking up and the impact it has on the moral guidance of children. He has seen a coarsening of our society, a language that is unsuitable, a filthiness and commonness that, quite frankly, offends Him at every level. Mr. Speaker, you and others listening to me tonight, I think, have their own list of things that God looks at and cannot and simply will not bless. How do we turn that around? How do we reclaim that moral high ground? I am going to argue, Mr. Speaker, that that is an individual job. I don't think any of us would argue that we can legislate this work, because this is a work of each of our hearts. Mr. Speaker, I think you reclaim this moral high ground by living a moral code. I live the Judeo-Christian model. Jesus Christ is my personal savior. I try to live his tenets every single day. Some days I am better at it than others. Each of those days, I am simply a sinner saved by grace. That grace of God has provided the story of that, and how that works is provided for us in the Bible that we celebrate tonight. Mr. Speaker, each one of us has to live a code that, in fact, can create moral and religious people. Each of us in this body take an oath every 2 years--those of us who are fortunate to get reelected--to defend and protect the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. We have got good men and women in uniform tonight who are putting their lives between us and some really bad guys as a result of that oath of office. I'm going to ask each of my colleagues here tonight to think about what they are willing to put on the line to protect and defend the Constitution, to help create that moral fiber, and to reclaim that moral high ground that will, in fact, allow us to continue self- governance and, by extension, protect this Republic. That used to be the easy thing to do, Mr. Speaker, but the voices against us, the voices of intolerance are growing louder and louder every single day. It will come at a risk to stand up for those Biblical truths on which this country was founded and which have sustained her for some 230 years. Are you and I, in fact, willing to take those risks, take the risk of being ostracized, being ridiculed, being made fun of because we stand up for the truths that all of us know built and sustained this country? I certainly hope we are because we have got young men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line, and I am going to ask you to put your reputation and mine on the line to help create and maintain this Republic. As Benjamin Franklin said: ``A Republic, if you can keep it.'' These are strong words for a strong-hearted people who must reclaim the moral high ground that God, in fact, continues to bless. Mr. Speaker, I ask that God bless each one of us, that God continue to bless Texas, and that God bless the great United States of America.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to acknowledge the response of our communities and Federal agencies to the recent hurricanes and wildfires. I would like to first offer my thoughts and prayers to families affected by these tragedies. The USDA and FNS play a vital role in providing supplemental nutrition assistance when disasters occur by coordinating with State, local, and voluntary organizations. Nothing is more important that providing food when people find themselves suddenly, and often critically, in need following disaster-related emergencies. FNS has worked tirelessly to provide nutrition assistance to those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as the Western Wildfires. Our fellow citizens in Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, California, and Oregon have received assistance including automatic mass replacement of benefits, D-SNAP, free school meals, and waivers, ultimately ensuring people have enough to eat in their time of need. As Secretary Perdue has said, each disaster situation is unique. The USDA and FNS have demonstrated their ability to respond to each of these unique situations in a timely and effective way. The challenges facing our communities ravaged by hurricanes and wildfires are unprecedented. Getting food on the table in a timely manner should not be an additional challenge. I want to recognize the fortitude of our fellow citizens as they come together to rebuild after such devastation as well as acknowledge the USDA's diligence in addressing the nutrition-related needs of our fellow citizens.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the National Adoption Day celebration that is taking place today in Odessa. Throughout the day, local courts in Ector County will open their doors and finalize the adoption process for families in the community. It is fitting that National Adoption Awareness Month occurs in the month of November, a time of family and Thanksgiving. During this time of the year, we reflect on what we are most thankful for in our lives, such as our families. Each of our families provide us with unconditional love, help shape our character, provide a lifetime of precious memories and motivate us through challenging times. Unfortunately, not everyone is afforded this opportunity in life. Thankfully, God has blessed our world with selfless individuals who open their hearts and homes to these children. Many of these children have various medical, developmental, and emotional needs that requires special nurturing from devoted parents and families. These special individuals who elect to take on full responsibility for their care, upbringing, and overall well-being provide an important service not only to these children, but also to our communities and country. I am particularly gratified to recognize these new families because I am adopted myself. My father adopted my little brother, sister, and me, so seeing other children who have the benefit of a loving family warms my heart. I want to thank CASA of the Permian Basin and the other organizations across the nation who help make National Adoption Day possible. I also want to thank the dedicated individuals who make a powerful difference in the lives of children through adoption.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent thousands of teachers across west Texas who have dedicated their careers to educating and preparing our children for the future. As a former member of the Midland Independent School Board, I understand the impact these selfless individuals have on our communities. Unfortunately, we honor their service to our communities by unfairly withholding Social Security benefits that they have earned through secondary employment. While this policy, known as the windfall elimination provision, was well-intended, it has proven to be ill-conceived. Many educators have been harmed by the unintended consequences that have created uncertainty and put a damper on the otherwise joyous occasion of retirement. It is imperative that we solve this issue and give our Texas teachers the ability to collect the Social Security benefits that they deserve. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the House to find a fair and equitable resolution to this issue to ensure that our educators have access to the Social Security benefits and pensions they most certainly have earned.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the budget before the House. As a legislator, but more importantly, as a father and grandfather, I am seriously concerned about the mountain of debt our Nation is passing on to our children and grandchildren. Our Nation's total Federal debt is now bigger than our gross domestic product. Think about that. As the leader of the free world and the driver of global innovation and entrepreneurship, over the next 10 years, we expect to reach a point where annual interest payments to our creditors will exceed the amount we spend on defending our Nation. It is imperative that we change this trajectory, and I commend Chairwoman Black and her colleagues on the Budget Committee for providing a blueprint for tackling the problem. While Congress has made many decisions ahead of us to rein in mandatory spending, this budget is a critical starting point. Not only is budgeting a fundamental principle of good governance, it is essential to our efforts to reform our outdated tax system to ensure it is simpler and reduces the tax burden for all Americans. As a CPA with a current license, I look forward to the very real prospect of fundamental tax reform. This budget is the vehicle that can make that happen. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this budget.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the community of El Campo, Texas. Recently, while surveying crop damage from Hurricane Harvey in and around El Campo, two members of my staff and one USDA staffer were involved in a serious car accident. They were immediately transported to El Campo Memorial Hospital, where they received exemplary care and were later discharged. As the stories from the day later unfolded, I was struck by the outpouring of kindness and generosity of the many farmers, ranchers, and community members of El Campo. This is a town and a community that is still recovering in the wake of Hurricane Harvey--a community that has suffered tremendous losses over the past month. Yet, without a second thought, area farmers and ranchers lined up in the hospital waiting room offering spare bedrooms, meals, and transportation for my staff. These were producers who, in some cases, had never met my team, but who felt compelled to lend a hand to those in need. America is hurting right now. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have wreaked havoc in States and cities across our Nation; and the good citizens of Las Vegas are dealing with another disaster of a different making. Nevertheless, folks are hurting there as well. We need look no further than the compassion of those bighearted farmers, ranchers, and first responders of El Campo, Texas, to understand America's strength and resolve. They make Texas strong. They make America strong. Together, we will get through all of our challenges. May God continue to bless Texas, and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. CONAWAY

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

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is a pretty straightforward amendment. It does two things. One, it saves and conserves valuable taxpayer dollars to be used on higher priority issues, and it holds the Department of Defense accountable for current law. Mr. Chairman, we currently have in place a variety of agreements with folks who buy biofuels at costs ranging up to $28 a gallon. The Army actually bought some at $40 a gallon. At a time when you have heard, for over an hour now, the need for conserving resources, for reprioritizing resources, having those kind of contracts, new contracts come in existence makes no sense whatsoever. This amendment would simply say that while sequestration is going on, while we are under the draconian measures of sequestration, the Army, Department of Defense, Navy, Air Force will not enter into new contracts. Existing contracts, wherever they may be, however costly they might be, would continue forward, we would honor those and the amendments made in that regard. But as long as we are under sequestration and we are under this budgeting process that you have heard ad nauseam over the last hour or so, these would prevent this problem from going forward. Then if sequestration goes away on its own or we somehow lift it ourselves, then this restriction would be lifted and then new contracts could be entered into, but those contracts would then have an accounting clause in it, or the accounting department at the Pentagon would have an accounting process in which the cost of the fuels would have to take into account all of the other agencies who have been contributing to this fund. Early on, there was a $510 million pot of money created by the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Agriculture, using the Commodities Credit Corporation to fund this $510 million. None of us know where that money went. It was supposed to do a refinery, but we don't know that. We can't prove that. We do know that they bought jet fuel at $28 a gallon under this program. Normally, at that same timeframe, they also bought jet fuel for $3.35 a gallon. So 25 bucks a gallon differential, 2 million gallons bought at the higher prices, that is $51 million of taxpayer dollars that were, I believe, misapplied and misprioritized in these tough times. This program came into existence, in no small part, because of America's reliance on overseas sources of oil. This all predates the last 6 years of effort that has gone on in order to create the energy independence that we see on the horizon, given shale drilling and all of the opportunity to use these cheaper fuels. So I ask my colleagues to support the amendment. This makes sense. It does not squander taxpayer resources. It does not affect existing contracts. It would only be for new contracts. The industry itself, of course, is going to be for it because they are selling a commodity at $28 a gallon versus $3 a gallon, and you would expect them to be against my amendment. But my amendment is for the servicemen and -women and for the taxpayers. Mr. Chair, I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chair, how much time do I have?

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chair, the gentleman is incorrect in the sense that this does not, over the next year or 2 or 3, however long sequestration is going to be in place, measurably affect climate change one way or the other. The small amounts of fuel that are allowed to be purchased in excess of competitive costs are 2 million gallons at 28 bucks a gallon. The Department of Defense buys 107 billion gallons of fuel, so any number up to some multimillion dollar number, million gallon amount could be hidden under this amount. We also don't have a good accounting process to understand exactly what those costs are when they enter into these contracts, and asking the Department of Agriculture to subsidize this process doesn't make any sense either. In order to hide from the program, the issue is the Department of Defense buys the fuel, they send a bill to the Commodities Credit Corporation to actually pay for it. So it is not even on the Department of Defense's books and records to get the proper accounting to make sure. This is straightforward stuff. You can't, on the one hand, argue that we need to provide all that needs to be provided for our men and women to fight and spend an extra $51 billion, plus $510 million that we don't know where that went on a product that can be brought for $3.35 a gallon. I would argue there is nowhere in the world today where we need drop- in jet fuel that can be provided somewhere else. That argument is specious and it makes no sense whatsoever. That may be some future issue, but that is not today. Giving the shale drilling and the opportunity to provide fossil fuels for our military and their direct mission of fighting, not doing the other things to try to support this issue, makes no sense. So I ask my colleagues to vote for this commonsense amendment. It does not affect the existing contracts, and it is a better use of taxpayer dollars, and it is better for the members of the service to put a hiatus on new contracts while we are under sequestration and all of the things that have been talked about. So I encourage my colleagues to support the amendment. And with that, I yield to the chairman for any comments he might have.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that my bill, the 12 Carrier Act, was included in last night's NDAA markup. This legislation will play a critical role in rebuilding our nation's military. With ongoing perils around the world, including increasing violence by ISIS and persistent threats by North Korea, it is vital to our nation's security that our Navy is fully equipped with the resources and capabilities to respond to these threats. By including my bill in the Committee's mark, we will be increasing the statutory limit for carriers from eleven to twelve. In doing so, this measure will empower the Navy with the tools they desperately need to meet Combatant Commander requirements, deter conflict, prolong the lives of our fleet, and send a message to potential adversaries that we will not allow our decisive advantage in worldwide maritime force projection to erode. Since the end of the Cold War, aircraft carrier requirements have increased while the aircraft carrier force structure has declined. The Navy has stated that the current forces cannot support global requirements. For years, this strain has caused our fleet to operate at maximum capacity, limiting aircraft carrier at-sea training, increasing deployment lengths and decreased time available for maintenance. To express the shortcomings of our carrier fleet, Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Moore has stated ``We're an 11-carrier Navy in a 15-carrier world''. President Trump also recently stressed the necessity of adding a twelfth carrier to our fleet. Maintaining the required operational tempo with 12 carriers relieves significant stress both in terms of manpower, as well as keeping the proper maintenance cycles of the carriers themselves. When the carrier fleet is at full strength of 12, regional combatant commanders will be able to rely on the imposing presence of U.S. forces and will be able to respond to threats in a more expedited manner. I am encouraged that my fellow members of the Armed Services Committee agree with my concerns about the shrinking size and capabilities of the United States Navy, and acted in a bipartisan fashion to include my ``12 Carrier Act'' into the markup. I thank Chairman Thornberry and Subcommittee Chairman Wittman for their support on this measure, and I look forward to seeing this measure passed by the House as part of the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the opening of the new and expanded Memorial Lane in Granbury, Texas on July 1, 2017. Located along the Granbury Hike and Bike Trail, Memorial Lane pays homage to those who were lost in the line of duty and honors all those serving or who have served as a firefighter, police officer or armed service member. The memorial features moving art pieces that depict the sacrifices that these individuals and their families have made. In addition, Memorial Lane also includes a plaza completed with picnic tables and areas for the community to enjoy the scenery and special atmosphere of the memorial. Tributes such as these allow us to reflect on the remarkable lives of our fallen heroes and their families. We must continue to honor them every day and use these individuals as shining examples for generations to come. I look forward to seeing this memorial the next time I am in Granbury. May God bless our first responders and armed service members serving today and in days past. May He comfort those who endure the pain of loss, and may He never cease to shed his grace on Texas and this great nation.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in the defense of freedom and to preserve the liberties that we hold dear in this nation. Every Memorial Day, our nation unites to remember our military heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend the values and freedoms we all cherish. This day of remembrance represents why so many people in our country are grateful to be Americans. No other nation has sacrificed so much to secure not only its freedom, but that of other nations. As we reflect on the remarkable lives of our nation's fallen soldiers and their families, we must continue to honor them each and every day, as a single day of commemoration is far short of what they deserve. I know that back home in my district, our community will do their part in carrying on the legacy of these selfless individuals. The Granbury community will host their sixth annual ``Field of Flags,'' which is a memorial of over a thousand flags flying along Highway 377 and is dedicated to the lives of those that were killed in action or that are still missing in action. As we attend Memorial Day events like the ``Field of Flags'' this weekend, it is imperative to teach younger generations about the sacrifices these people made in order for us to live by the values that founded this nation. May God bless our men and women serving today and in days past, may He comfort those who endure the pain of loss, and may He never cease to shed his grace on Texas and this great nation.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 88 veterans from West Texas who will be visiting Washington, D.C. this week, sponsored by the Permian Basin Honor Flight. On behalf of a grateful state and nation, we welcome these heroes to the nation's capital. The veterans on this Honor Flight are Clint Adams, Larry Allen, Robert Barbee, William Bourbon, Johnny Bragg, Patrido Brijalba, James Brooks, Randall Brooks, Jack Brookshire, Norval Brown, Leo Carr, Garry Clark, Edmundo Cobos, Edward Comacho, Jose Contreras, Guadalupe Cruz, Marvin Crain, Michael Crain, Ernest Davis, MJ Dinkins, Richard Dolan, Jose Duarte, Michael Dyess, Rayburn Favre, Carlton Fite, Richard Foncannon, John Foreman, Richard Galloway, Bobby Gann, Jerry Giles, Gonzalo Guzman, Barry Handlin, Donald Hawke, John Hayes, Harry Hemmenway, Cary Holt, John Hood, Earl Jackson, Joe Jackson, Marvin Jennings, Albert Johnson, Thomas Johnston, Velton Jones, William Jones, James Langston, Robert Lathrop, Robert Love, Lee Maston, Mark Martin, Robert Martin, Walter Mason, Donald McSparran, Miguel Medina, Donald Merritt, Dory Miles, Kenneth Moore, Donnie Murray, Michael Norman, John Palmer, Jerry Partridge, Charles Pounds, Robert Patterson, Robert Price, Daniel Ramirez, Donald Ritchey, Joe Robledo, Jesus Rodriguez, Gary Roe, Monica Schwab, Dennis Sever, Larry Sisk, William Smartt, Larry Stowe, Oscar Taylor, Gustavo Tijerina, Bernaro Tucker, Joe Turner, Lewis VanZant, Sandra VanZant, Joe Villalva, Mark Webb, Donnie White, Eddy Willmon, Leo Wilson, Willie Woods. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled to have the opportunity to meet these brave men and women who exemplify the best of our country. Their sacrifice and commitment to the duty to our nation can never be fully repaid, and I hope that when they visit our nation's monuments in Washington, D.C., the gratitude and respect we have for them will truly be reflected. Colleagues, please join me in thanking these veterans and their families for their exemplary dedication and service to this great nation. I would also like to extend a special thank you to the local communities, all of the volunteers, and Ms. Teresa Galloway and Mr. John West for their extensive work in organizing this Honor Flight. This trip would not have been possible without all the financial and emotional support of the people who have put in so much hard work and personal time to make sure this trip could be possible.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished service of the United Way of Midland as they celebrate their 70th Anniversary. For the past 70 years, The United Way of Midland has been dedicated to enriching the Permian Basin through their various outreach programs. UWM works directly with program providers in supporting over 50 programs and services that target individual needs throughout the community. These initiatives focus on three building blocks to a better life, which are: promoting quality education that leads to stable employment; empowering individuals to achieve economic stability and financial security through proven methods like job training and financial planning courses; and vital health services that promote healthy lifestyles and choices. Through their work, UWM assists roughly 65,000 people annually and invests over $3 million back into the community. As a Lifetime Member of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Midland, I have been fortunate enough to see firsthand the great work that this organization does for the Permian Basin community. I wish them best of luck with their future endeavors.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. W. David Watts on his distinguished tenure at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. For the past fifteen years, Dr. Watts has served as the President of UTPB. Under his leadership, UTPB has seen an unprecedented growth and the university's reputation has grown exponentially. Since 2001, the university enrollment increased from 2,200 to 6,315 students and the availability of student housing has increased from just six buildings with 96 beds to 37 buildings with 1,197. These additions have significantly impacted the local economy and transformed UTPB to an established university community. Early into his presidency, Dr. Watts made a commitment to expand educational opportunities by investing in online programs to allow students to earn a degree from a distance and allow for the development of career opportunities throughout the region. These efforts have led UTPB to be recognized by numerous outlets, such as BestColleges.com and U.S. News and World Report, as one of the most affordable online programs in the nation. In addition, Dr. Watts' vision of expanding access to quality education has also led to the creation of Texas' first entirely virtual Early College High School network. This network allows universities and colleges to partner with local school districts to offer at risk high school students to earn a high school diploma and up to sixty college credits at no cost. These accelerated courses reduce the barriers to college access and increased college readiness with these students. This program has allowed thousands of students to set out on their path to achieve their professional goals. Dr. Watts' commitment to quality education has allowed UTPB to be the first school in Texas to offer a $10,000 bachelor's degree in select majors and is recognized as the least expensive Texas public, four-year institution. Under his leadership, UTPB has received national accreditation in Art, Business, Education, Mechanical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering, Social Work, Music, Nursing, and Athletic Training Education. These initiatives have allowed UTPB to leave its imprint on the workforce, and it could not have been accomplished without Dr. Watt's leadership. Over the last few years, Dr. Watts spearheaded efforts to write a new chapter in UTPB's history by bringing college football to the university. Prior to this, UTPB was the only public university west of I-35 that did not participate in football. Now UTPB is in a more competitive position to attract new students to the Permian Basin. Last year, the Falcons kicked off the inaugural season and set the foundation for the program. The team looks to build off of that progress as they begin to prepare for next season. Dr. Watts' contributions to UTPB will always be remembered and his impact will surely be felt by generations to come. As he and his wife Denise embark on a new chapter in their life, I wish them all my best.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to shed light on the religious persecution of Christians by the Chinese Government. On March 5 of this year, Reverend Cao San Qiang, also known as ``Pastor John,'' was arrested and is still behind bars in the Yunnan province of southwest China. I believe that his arrest and detention was for inflated charges leveled against him simply because he is a Christian. Pastor John has been a permanent resident of the United States since 1990, where he attended seminary and became a pastor in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is married, with two children, and is kind and humble. Even though he was living a comfortable life in the United States, he kept his Chinese citizenship so he could continue to travel there and spread the good word of Jesus Christ. He has been ministering to the impoverished people of Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China for over a decade. In these last 3 years, he helped build and staff 16 schools in northern Myanmar. For years, Pastor John regularly crossed the border on his small motorcycle loaded with food and medicine, without incident. For some reason, this time, he was arrested and charged as a smuggler. Since his arrest, Chinese officials have raided and threatened a number of Christian churches in several provinces. I urge the State Department to seek Pastor John's immediate release from Chinese custody and to stop further raids before other innocent individuals become casualties of aggressive religious persecution.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, we are faced with an unenviable choice of the fact that there is infinite demand for health care. There is no top on the amount of healthcare cost necessary to provide all the health care that we want for everybody in this country, and we have limited resources within which to do that. The real question is: Does ObamaCare take up that task by asking government to make those hard choices, or do we as individuals and families and caregivers make those harder choices for ourselves? I believe that the bill that we will get to vote on today moves us toward that direction. This isn't about health care, per se; this is about how do you pay for it. Insurance is not a magic bullet anywhere across the spectrum. Insurance is simply a scheme in which we risk-manage together. We put a certain amount of money into a bucket, assuming not all of us will suffer the risks that we want to cover. If we do, we have got to put more money in; if we don't, then the system works. This is about having to confront that choice that there is way too much cost for the amount of resources that are available in any of these circumstances, and it is hard. Many of my constituents ask: Why did Republicans spend 6 years railing against ObamaCare and not have the fix available on Inauguration Day? Well, this is Exhibit A. This is hard stuff. Even among Republicans, we have got more than 218 votes among us, and we can't agree among ourselves necessarily what ought to go forward. But I do know this, that we are down to the final choice: Do we keep ObamaCare and the failure that is confronting us and will continue to be there, or do we take a chance on moving toward something different, moving toward freedom, moving toward choice, giving States back the opportunity to decide for their indigent population how they should take care of them? I don't think anybody in Washington, D.C., can come up with a plan that fixes that for all 50 States. I trust my colleagues in Austin to make that happen far better than anybody I would trust in D.C., and this bill moves that direction, and that is the right direction for us to go. This is a hard choice, but for me it is relatively straightforward. You keep ObamaCare with a ``no'' vote. You move toward a brighter future for health care in this country and the way we pay for it, who pays for it, and how we get that done by a ``yes'' vote. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.