K. Conaway

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleagues' comments, both the ranking member as well as the chairman of the subcommittee. We did work in a bipartisan manner. We worked out the differences of the bill, came up with a good work product. It is worthy of the system. I would like to, again, emphasize, as my colleague from Arkansas did, we are actually getting this done ahead of time. These rules aren't out-of-date yet. And so I would encourage my colleagues in the Senate to follow our example and get it done quickly so we can get this to the President's desk. I urge support of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule to provide for the consideration of H.R. 2289, the Commodity End-User Relief Act. I want to start by thanking Chairman Sessions and the entire Rules Committee for their time and work in preparing this rule. Yesterday's hearing was spirited but fair, and they have produced a rule that reflects the tremendous work the Agriculture Committee has put in on this issue. Over the past few years, the Agriculture Committee has heard from dozens of witnesses at over 10 hearings. These witnesses, many of whom are market participants struggling to comply with the needlessly burdensome rules and ambiguous portions of the underlying statute, have been consistent in their call to action. To address their concerns, H.R. 2289 makes targeted reforms that fall into three broad categories: customer protections, Commission reforms, and end-user relief. Title I of the bill protects customers and the margin funds they deposit at their FCMs by codifying critical changes made in the wake of the collapses and bankruptcies of MF Global and Peregrine Financial. Title II makes meaningful reforms to the operations of the Commission to improve the agency's deliberative process. In doing so, it also requires the Commission to conduct more robust cost-benefit analyses to help get future rulemakings right the first time and to avoid the endless cycle of reproposing and delaying unworkable rules. While the CFTC is already required to consider costs and benefits of the rules it proposes, this rule attempts to legitimize that practice, a practice that has been called into question. The current practice has been called into question by the Commission's own inspector general, who reported the agency seemed to view the process as more of a legal one than an economic one. Finally, title III of the bill fixes real problems faced by end users who rely on derivatives markets to manage their risks. When it is more costly for those who need these markets to use them, it discourages the exact kind of prudent risk management activities Congress intended to protect with the end user exemption in Dodd-Frank. Accordingly, the bill provides relief to agricultural and commercial market participants struggling to comply with overreaching and costly recordkeeping requirements and allows utility companies to continue using contracts that allow for a change in the volume of the commodity delivered without the worry of needlessly complying with the swaps regulations. H.R. 2289 will preserve end users' ability to hedge against anticipated business risk by providing a more workable definition of bona fide hedging. The bill also addresses serious concerns regarding the lack of harmony and clarity in global derivatives regulation by requiring the CFTC to publish a rule addressing how the U.S. swaps requirements apply to transactions occurring outside the United States and with non-U.S. persons. To be clear, H.R. 2289 makes these meaningful improvements for market participants without undermining the basic goals of title VII of Dodd- Frank, the Holy Grail, to bring clearing, reporting, and electronic execution requirements to swaps transactions. In closing, I would like to thank the members of the Committee on Agriculture who have worked hard, including Mr. Newhouse, to advance this important legislation. I am especially appreciative of Mr. Lucas, who worked on reauthorization last year, which was our starting point for this year, as well as some of our newest members. I also owe particular thanks to Mr. Austin Scott and Mr. David Scott, the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee, respectively, that oversees the CFTC. Both of these gentlemen have joined me as original sponsors and have held a series of hearings on reauthorization.

Mr. CONAWAY. They did outstanding work helming a new subcommittee focused on these issues, and I look forward to their diligent oversight work throughout the rest of the Congress. Similar to the CFTC reauthorization bill passed by the House with overwhelming bipartisan support last year, the Commodity End-User Relief Act is comprised of narrowly targeted changes to the Commodity Exchange Act. The committee has again put together a bill that earned the bipartisan support of our members because we brought the right relief to the right people. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the rule and support for the underlying act.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 82 Veterans from West Texas who will be visiting our 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: Clinton Adams, James Barbee, Johnny Barbee, Jerry Barker, Mike Barker, Emil Baker, Louie Bramley, Ewel Butler, Robert Caldwell, Oscar Campbell, Thomas Chandler, James Clark, Billy Cobb, Bert Cornelius, Gordon Cornelius, D.W. Day, David Dixon, Ruth Eaton, Reymundo Falcon, Othal Ike Fitzgerald, Jerry Flippin, Donothan Flourney, Ellis Fulton, Richard Galloway, Hector Garcia, Oscar Gonzales, Sipriano Gonzales, Andrew Greenfield, Martin Hammer, Wilbur Harkness III, Wilbur Harkness, Joshua Hernandez, Leonardo Hernandez, Andres Hernandez, Elyceo Herrera, Jimmy Herrera, Manuel Herrera, Ruben Herrera, Eugene Hirt, Ezra Holliman, Franklin Hughes, James Ingram, Bobby Jumper, Demencio Luna, Demencio Luna, Catarino Martinez, Pedro Martinez, Windord McClure, Jerry McNeese, James Merriman, Roy Miller, Ronnie Millsap, Linvel Mosby, Lloyd Munoz, Sylvia Munoz, Ellis Norwood, Maria Pauls, Charles Pinkerton, Dewayne Poindexter, Clifford Ray, William Reed, Rosendo Reyes, Joseph Rhode, Barney Rodriguez, Benny Rogers, Darrell Sanders, Frank Sandoval, Donald Schwartz, George Schwartz, Ernest Showalter, Harold Stallcup, Steven Stone, Frank Taylor, John Urban, Randy Vest, Robert Vest, Harry Washam, Val Wilcox, Charles Wolf, James Woods, James Woodwick, and Woody Wayne. 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 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 Mr. Jeremy West 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 commemorate the 50th anniversary of Odessa Permian High School football team's first State championship title. As a member of that team, I am especially excited to gather with my teammates this weekend to look back over the 50 years. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and high school football is no different. Mr. Speaker, when our team earned the title that bitterly cold December day, it was the start of one of the most storied high school football dynasties in Texas. We were led by the Texas coaching legend, Gene Mayfield, who was as tough as his reputation suggests. He was known for his motivational skills, and he could motivate. Coach Mayfield and the coaching staff did not inherit a State-championship- caliber team that year; rather, through his influence and direction, he molded our team into something that many doubted we could ever become. His emphasis on preparation, competition, and expectation to win drove our team to demand more of each other. We suffered during his notoriously tough workouts. You could find our team running in the sandhills of Monahans Sandhills State Park or challenging each other with bicycle races, wrestling matches, or any of the other various events that he could find that would hone our competitive spirit and build a drive to win and a spirit to never quit. Mr. Speaker, unbeknownst to us as kids, the values Coach Mayfield was instilling in us that year would carry with us for the rest of our lives. He was teaching us more than how to be good football players; he was teaching us how to become men. I personally view Coach Mayfield as one of the most influential men in my life, and I believe that my teammates would say the same. It was through our shared experiences that our team bonded together. In 1965, it drove us to win, and we were seeing the fruits of our labors with each game night. Those experiences created relationships that have endured over five decades. This Friday, my teammates and I will gather to renew those bonds and reminisce, but also to become the recipients of this year's Odessa Permian High School Black Shirt Award. Every year, this award is given to a school organization, individual, or group that have achieved a standard of excellence and inspired a passion in the Permian High School alumni and student body. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have been a part of that historic season and to have played with some of the best teammates you could ever ask for.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding. This may not be the topic that he is going to talk about here, but I appreciate the time to be able to talk to something that is important to the folks of west Texas and is actually important to all Americans. I rise today to bring attention to an important issue that is gathering nationwide support, that is, repealing the export ban on crude oil. This week, I submitted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would, in fact, repeal the ban. While the amendment did not ultimately make it into the final bill, I would like to take a moment to talk about the importance of lifting that ban. First, let's remember why the export ban was placed into law to begin with. Because of the OPEC oil embargo of 1973, Congress enacted the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, directing the President to ban crude oil exports. At the time, the ban served a purpose: to keep our oil at home in order to reduce our exposure to the wildly fluctuating markets of that time. Today, though, the ban has outlived its purpose. It is an antiquated policy that is now only serving to harm Americans and punish domestic production. For example, right now we allow Iran to export more oil from their country than we do from our own domestic producers. This is wrongheaded and is long overdue for a change. The ban should be lifted, while leaving in place the necessary authorities to allow the President to act in an emergency and while preserving our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Some claim that gasoline prices would increase if the ban is lifted, but analysis shows that to be incorrect. It shows that prices will actually fall, reducing the cost of the product that American families rely on every single day, which is another reason to support lifting the ban. In 2013, the United States was the number one oil producing nation in the world, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia, a fact that many thought impossible only a decade ago. Taking advantage of our Nation's abundant resources by lifting the ban will, in fact, lower gasoline prices, create dependable, long- lasting jobs, and help expand our energy supply, making our Nation more energy independent. I urge my colleagues to listen to the growing voice of the American people. It is time to lift the export ban on crude oil.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dear friend and constituent, Colonel Charles E. Powell. Charles is being honored this week by the Texas Southwest Council of the Boy Scouts as their Distinguished Citizen of the Year. Charles was born in Nashville, Arkansas on May 7, 1931. After finishing high school, Charles was accepted into the United States Naval Academy in July of 1950 and graduated with distinction on June 4, 1954. That day, he commissioned into the United States Air Force. Shortly after his commission, Charles became an Air Force pilot and logged over 7000 flying hours. During the Vietnam War, he logged over 700 combat flying hours as a Rescue C-130 commander and is credited with fourteen combat saves. After the war, Charles served in many different leadership roles throughout the Air Force. In 1980, he was tasked to be the base commander of Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, TX. At the time, Goodfellow was scheduled to be closed and it was Charles' job to prevent the base from being closed. He began working with local community leaders and assisted in shaping a new military mission for Goodfellow Air Force Base. Today, Charles' impacts can still be felt at Goodfellow Air Force Base, as it serves as a training school for thousands of service members from across all branches to train in cryptology, intelligence, and firefighting. Charles' dedication and leadership helped save a community that many veterans have come to love and adopt as their own home. After his decorated military career, Charles continued to serve San Angelo as a leader. Charles went on to serve as vice president of the Southwest Bank, known today as First Financial Bank. In addition to serving as VP of the Southwest Bank, Charles created and directed the SWB Investment Center Inc. He served as the Chairman, President, and CEO of the Center until he retired in 1995. From there, Charles served on a variety of community service based boards such as the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Tom Green County and Texas, the Fort Conch Historical Society, the San Angelo City Council, among many more. Throughout the years, Charles has been supported by his loving wife Joanne. Joanne has assisted my constituents in my San Angelo office during my entire tenure. Joanne is also an instrumental figure in assisting with our annual military service academy 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. Charles and Joanne's support and dedication to this effort have made them very special pieces to my team. I am truly grateful for all of their hard work and dedication to the San Angelo community and to Texas' 11th district. By serving his country and his community, Charles has upheld the Scout Oath: `To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.' His service has set an example for many generations of Boy Scouts. I am honored to have the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Colonel Powell with the Texas Southwest Council of the Boy Scouts. Again, I offer my congratulations to Charles for being this year's Texas Southwest Council of the Boy Scouts' Distinguished Citizen.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate Chairman Shuster's leadership on this issue. It is important that we go ahead and kill this proposed rule now because it will go final coming out of OMB, and that is a wreck. I rise today in support of H.R. 1732, the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015. I cannot stress enough the importance of this legislation to stop the Obama administration's Waters of the U.S. proposed rule and its damaging impacts on our country. This rule, in its current form, is a massive overreach of EPA's authority and will impact nearly every farmer and rancher in America. It gives the EPA the ability to regulate essentially any body of water they want, including farm ponds and even ditches that are dry for most of the year. Bottom line: under the EPA's proposed rule, nearly every body of water in the United States can be controlled by Federal regulators. Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this legislation that forces the EPA and the Corps to stop moving forward with the proposed Waters of the U.S. rule and do as they should have done from the beginning--working with States and local stakeholders to develop a new and proper set of recommendations. I urge support for H.R. 1732. It is imperative that the administration listen to rural America.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the hard-working men and women of the oil patches of west Texas. I have lived most of my life around those oil fields. I grew up in Odessa, Texas, where my dad was a roughneck. I have seen up close the hard work these good men and women do and the risks they face every day. These individuals, from wildcatters to roustabouts and roughnecks and company men and women, have led the charge in the American energy revolution. Each has played an integral part in rewriting America's energy story and changing our Nation's course toward energy independence. We have witnessed the impact of their strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative technological advances that have grown our economy, created jobs, and bolstered our national security. We depend on their exhaustive and dangerous work to power our homes, pave our roads, fuel our cars, farm our lands, and everything in between that keeps this Nation running. It is imperative that Congress support energy policies that are as adaptive and innovative as these hard-working men and women. Our policies must cut through bureaucratic red tape to encourage exploration here at home, reduce job-killing regulations, and repeal the antiquated crude oil export ban of a bygone era. To that end, I am introducing H. Res. 243 that will pledge the House's support to these criteria. I hope my colleagues will join me in this show of support for a hard-working industry.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize April as National Financial Literacy Month and highlight the key role that the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or the AICPA, and State CPA societies and CPAs across the country play in educating all Americans about their personal finances. National Financial Literacy Month is a yearly reminder of the importance of working to improve Americans' understanding of their personal finances. For over 10 years, the AICPA, its members, and State CPA societies have been the leaders in the financial literacy campaign by providing free programs, tools, and resources for all consumers. Thousands of CPAs across 55 States and jurisdictions are volunteering their time to educate consumers to understand their personal finances and their financial goals. The AICPA, along with the State CPA societies and like-minded financial educational institutions, plays an essential role in educating all Americans so that they will have the knowledge to make decisions for a lifetime of financial well-being. By focusing on financial education as a lifelong endeavor, CPAs are encouraging children to learn about the value of money and teaching adults the importance of saving for a secure retirement. Mr. Speaker, we have thousands of college students who are unfamiliar with the impact their student loan debt will have on their early career. A financially literate college student will understand those implications and ramifications and would be better served and be better suited or be better able to make better decisions with respect to whether or not to take on that debt as they pursue their college education. All Americans, from high school students to older adults, need the tools and resources to make educated decisions about their personal finances. Through the AICPA's flagship 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program, CPAs across the country are volunteering to help all Americans understand their personal finances through every stage of life. The program combines grassroots advocacy with free public resources and tools for CPAs to educate Americans of all ages. There is an urgent need to improve the financial literacy of all Americans. A recent survey showed that 47 percent of American households are not saving any of their current income for retirement. This means almost half of all Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and without any savings plan for financial hardships or retirement. Providing all Americans with the information necessary to make educated decisions will help households understand the value of savings for retirement and lead to a lifetime of financial well-being. Again, I would like to congratulate the AICPA and State societies for this effort in helping Americans become more financially literate.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Maime Erna Strieber Shepperd. Maime passed away in January, just weeks after celebrating her ninety-seventh birthday. Bright from a young age, Maime graduated high school as class valedictorian at the age of fifteen and enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin Journalism School. It was at the University of Texas where she met her husband of 51 years, the late John Ben Shepperd. They were married shortly after her graduation. Maime and John raised four children together, living in both Austin and Odessa throughout their marriage. She was first-lady to John's political career, first as Texas Secretary of State and then as Attorney General. When the family moved to Odessa, Maime got involved with many cultural, philanthropic, and political organizations. She served on the board for the West Texas Rehabilitation Center and founded the Crystal Ball, an annual benefit event. She was also involved as a board member for the Midland-Odessa Symphony, and was tapped by the New York Metropolitan Opera to serve as their West Texas representative. During Lyndon Johnson's campaign for president in 1964, Maime served as the Chairman of the Ladies for Lyndon West Texas committee. She also joined Lady Bird Johnson on the whistle-stop Lady Bird Special train as it toured eight southern states. Maime's legacy also extends to the University of Texas Permian Basin's library. As the Odessa chairman of the book drive which founded the library in the early 1970s, she helped obtain over 300,000 books to start the collection that students at the University of Texas Permian Basin still use to this day. Maime's dedication to her many cultural and philanthropic pursuits were admirable, as was the stable and loving home she provided for her family. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Alfred and Honey Shepperd, her daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Gary McIntosh, nine grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren. Please join me in remembering the extraordinary life of Maime Shepperd.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Chuck Wagon Gang of Odessa, Texas. This year, the Chuck Wagon Gang of Odessa is celebrating their 75th anniversary! The group was founded on March 5, 1940, when thirty three local businessman came together to promote the good word and charity of their beloved town with their BBQ. These men modeled their new initiative off the chuck wagon cooks that traveled the open cow trails of Texas. For 75 years, the Chuck Wagon Gang has served as ambassadors for the Odessa community by dishing out their legendary BBQ to millions of people worldwide with their renowned ``feeds''. Through the years, the gang has served their amazing meals and love for Odessa with presidents, members of Congress, governors, foreign dignitaries, country music stars, and famous athletes. This unique gang has spent countless hours away from their families, businesses, and homes to help show the world why Odessa is so special. Aside from promoting their adored city, the Chuck Wagon Gang hosts many charitable initiatives throughout the nation. The gang has hosted numerous ``feeds'' that have supported programs that assist disabled children, veterans, and many other non-profits. The Chuck Wagon Gang has been the premier public relations representatives for Odessa. The group has left a lasting impact wherever they have catered. These 250 volunteers of the Chuck Wagon Gang truly capture and spread the essence of West Texas. It is an honor to stand before the House today to recognize the Chuck Wagon Gang of Odessa for their seventy-five years of service. I am proud to represent individuals who take pride in their communities and promote the qualities we value in West Texas.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Maime Erna Strieber Shepperd. Maime passed away in January, just weeks after celebrating her ninety-seventh birthday. Bright from a young age, Maime graduated high school as class valedictorian at the age of fifteen and enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin Journalism School. It was at the University of Texas where she met her husband of 51 years, the late John Ben Shepperd. They were married shortly after her graduation. Maime and John raised four children together, living in both Austin and Odessa throughout their marriage. She was first-lady to John's political career, first as Texas Secretary of State and then as Attorney General. When the family moved to Odessa, Maime got involved with many cultural, philanthropic, and political organizations. She served on the board for the West Texas Rehabilitation Center and founded the Crystal Ball, an annual benefit event. She was also involved as a board member for the Midland-Odessa Symphony, and was tapped by the New York Metropolitan Opera to serve as their West Texas representative. During Lyndon Johnson's campaign for president in 1964, Maime served as the Chairman of the Ladies for Lyndon West Texas committee. She also joined Lady Bird Johnson on the whistle-stop Lady Bird Special train as it toured eight southern states. Maime's legacy also extends to the University of Texas Permian Basin's library. As the Odessa chairman of the book drive which founded the library in the early 1970s, she helped obtain over 300,000 books to start the collection that students at the University of Texas Permian Basin still use to this day. Maime's dedication to her many cultural and philanthropic pursuits was admirable, as was the stable and loving home she provided for her family. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Alfred and Honey Shepperd, her daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Gary McIntosh, nine grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren. Please join me in remembering the extraordinary life of Maime Shepperd.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, today is March 2, 2015. March 2, 1836, marked the beginning of what would become the Republic of Texas. Today on that day, 59 men signed the Declaration of Independence from Mexico and created the Republic of Texas. The events of January through April of 1836 are relatively significant, and I will walk through some of this history. I stand here today to honor the incredible events of those days and the 179 years of Texas experience that I am proud to be a part of. It is a great honor to be able to have been born in Texas and to claim a part of that incredible legacy. One of the signature events of the Texas revolution with Mexico, of course, was the battle of the Alamo, which began on February 23, 1836, where Colonel William Barret Travis began to gather men at the Alamo. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a transcription of his letter written to the people of Texas and all Americans on February 24. To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World: Fellow citizens & compatriots--I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna--I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken--I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch--The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country--Victory or Death. William Barret Travis, Lt. Col. comdt. P.S. The Lord is on our side--When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn--We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves. Travis.

Mr. CONAWAY. Travis and his other fellows stood watch at the Alamo from February 23 until March 6. As they were fighting and looking at their ultimate death, the Declaration of Independence was signed on March 2. Four days later, Santa Anna, with the Mexican Army, overran the Alamo and killed every single one of the defenders there. There are other events, such as the massacre at Goliad in which Santa Anna ordered the murder and execution of 400-plus Texans who had been a part of that fight. It was cold-blooded, it was ruthless, and it was unnecessary, but Santa Anna chose to take those steps specifically on his order on more than one occasion. And then, culminating on the 21st of April, the Battle of San Jacinto took place, in which Santa Anna and his entire army were surrounded by Texans in a decisive victory in which very few Texans lost their lives. Santa Anna was defeated, and the Texas experience--our independence--was secured with that battle. Mr. Speaker, I honor today the men and women who stood that ground, that hallowed ground, at the Alamo, at Goliad, San Jacinto, and other battles across Texas. They were stouthearted; they were resolute; they were self-sufficient; they were independent; they loved freedom; they loved independence; and as a result of that, they created Texas, an experience that has now gone on for some 179 years. There were almost 9 of these years in which Texas was the Republic of Texas, becoming a part of the United States in 1846 under that proud Lone Star Flag that we still fly today. My purpose here this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, is to call attention to the Declaration of Independence, and, more importantly, call attention to the faith that the men and women had in freedom and liberty and were willing to put their lives on the line. Many of those lives were lost in the fight for freedom and to create Texas. I am proud to call myself a Texan. I ask God to continue to bless Texas, and I ask God to continue to bless the United States of America.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, this House tomorrow will consider H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and I will support that bill because it protects most of the children in these circumstances. But I will do so with a heavy heart because it does not protect all children. Every child at 20 weeks and older deserves protection from the violence perpetrated on them in the womb by late-term abortions. Mr. Speaker, this bill does not protect all children because it gives an exception for children conceived in rape and incest. No child 20 weeks and older should be subjected to that, regardless of the circumstances in which they are conceived. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to work to try to correct that injustice as well, and I hope efforts are afoot to make this bill perfect in the sense that it would protect every single child 20 weeks and older because none of them deserve less.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chair, this legislation funds the Department of Homeland Security for the remainder of the current fiscal year at $39.7 billion, an increase of $400 million compared to the FY2014 enacted level. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 240, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act. This legislation is critically important to keeping our nation safe: It provides vital funding for the Department of Homeland Security for the remainder of the current fiscal year It also prioritizes frontline security efforts, while reducing unnecessary spending on overhead costs While there are many important programs that will receive funding through this legislation, I'd like to address just a few critically important areas: Last November, President Obama through executive fiat granted amnesty to as many as five million illegal immigrants. His decision to circumvent the proper legislative process was not the right way to handle this important issue. The President himself even admitted that he did not have the legal authority to issue an executive notice of this nature. We made a promise to our constituents that one of the first things we would do this Congress would be to prevent the President's unconstitutional executive action from becoming our nation's de facto immigration policy. This legislation does just that. Next, this bill increases funding for Customs and Border Protection in order to make our border more secure. This increase will support a greater number of Border Patrol agents and officers, and provides them with the technologies they need to ensure around-the-clock surveillance of air, land and sea approaches to our nation. And finally, this legislation includes important provisions that will allow the Coast Guard to continue operations without the cuts proposed by the President that would have greatly harmed the Coast Guard's operational abilities. This bill prioritizes spending in a way that will better protect our country. It is imperative that we pass this legislation to prevent the President's unconstitutional actions and to support the men and women who protect our borders.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise again today in support of H.R. 37, the Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act. I am especially proud of, and would like to highlight, the work of the Agriculture Committee on the titles of this bill under its jurisdiction--the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act, a provision on the Treatment of Affiliate Transactions, and a provision regarding Swap Data Repository and Clearinghouse Indemnification Corrections. Margin Requirements I am pleased that the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act was included as Title I of this bill, and even more so, that this provision was already approved by both chambers as a part of TRIA reauthorization. This Title puts in statute important protections for American businesses. To grow our economy, businesses should use their scarce capital to buy new equipment, hire more workers, build new facilities, and invest in the future. They cannot do that if they are required to hold money in margin accounts to fulfill a misguided regulation. Inter-affiliate Transactions Title II of H.R. 37, regarding the Treatment of Inter-Affiliate Transactions, was passed by the House multiple times in the 113th Congress and will also provide additional certainty to American business. It will do so by preventing the redundant regulation of harmless inter-affiliate transactions that would unnecessarily tie up the working capital of companies with no added protections for the market, or benefits to consumers. Today, businesses across the nation rely on the ability to centralize their hedging activities. This consolidation of a hedging portfolio across a corporate group allows businesses to reduce costs, simplify their financial dealings, and to reduce their counterparty credit risk. Title II of H.R. 37 will allow American businesses to continue utilizing this efficient, time-tested business model. Indemnification Requirements Finally, Title V of H.R. 37 makes much needed corrections to the swap data repository and clearinghouse indemnification requirements in Dodd- Frank. Currently, Dodd-Frank requires a foreign regulator requesting information from a U.S. swap data repository or derivatives clearing organization to provide a written agreement stating that it will abide by certain confidentiality requirements, and will indemnify the U.S. Commissions for any expenses arising from litigation relating to the request for information. However, while the concept of indemnification is well-established within U.S. tort law, it does not exist in many foreign jurisdictions, making it impossible for some foreign regulators to agree to these indemnification requirements. This threatens to make data sharing arrangements with foreign regulators unworkable. H.R. 37 mitigates the problem by simply removing the indemnification provisions in Dodd-Frank. However, the required written agreement mandating certain confidentiality obligations is left in place. So rather than stripping down Dodd-Frank, as we are so often accused, this change will actually serve to enhance market transparency and risk mitigation, by ensuring that that regulators and market participants have access to a global set of swap market data. As Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, and as a cosponsor of each of these bills in the 113th Congress, I appreciate Mr. Fitzpatrick's work to bring these provisions together in a package that reduces regulatory burdens and promotes economic growth. I strongly urge my colleagues to support the legislation. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, January 13, 2014. Mr. Speaker: I am pleased to see three bills that the House Committee on Agriculture passed in the 113th Congress included as Titles I, II, and V of H.R. 37, ``Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act.'' H.R. 634, H.R. 5471, and H.R. 742, which were also included as Subtitles A, B, and C of Title III of H.R. 4413, ``Customer Protection and End-User Relief Act,'' from the 113th Congress provide an important protections to end-users from costly margining requirements and needless regulatory burdens; as well as correct an unworkable provision in Dodd- Frank which required foreign regulators to break their local laws in order to access the market data they needed to enforce their laws. In support of these titles, I would like to request that the pertinent portions of the Committee on Agriculture report to accompany H.R. 4413 in the 113th Congress be included in the appropriate place in the Congressional Record. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, from these microphones, there was more than one occasion when my colleagues would argue that somehow giving a bonus of $1 million to the business owner or a chief executive officer of a company would somehow go untaxed; that because the company got a tax deduction that that somehow spread the burden of that across all of America. What was left out of the conversation each and every time was the fact that the recipient of that bonus--this individual--actually puts that on their tax return and pays it at a much higher rate. In fact, that $1 million would probably be taxed at the 43 percent rate--or 39.6, plus the add-ons that are in place. So, over and over again yesterday the American people were misled as to the consequences of getting bonuses or paying chief executive officers. It does not go untaxed simply because the company gets a tax deduction. That employee has to put that on their tax return and pay the appropriate taxes on that. I just wanted to set the record straight on yesterday's misguided comments with respect to how individuals who create businesses and grow those businesses are compensated, and the misinformation that that somehow is a negative impact on the rest of us.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for allowing me to speak on his bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 37, the Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act. I am especially proud of and would like to highlight the past work of the Agriculture Committee on the three titles of this bill under its jurisdiction: the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act; a provision on the treatment of affiliate transactions; and a provision regarding swap data repository and clearinghouse indemnification correction. As I noted in the debate earlier today on TRIA, the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act is legislation to clarify Congress' intent to exempt non-financial businesses from a misguided regulatory requirement to post margin requirements on their hedging activities. Clearing and margining, while appropriate for some transactions, are not appropriate for end users hedging real-world commercial risks. Their hedging activities are not large enough to present a systemic risk, and a margin requirement represents a significant and needless expense with little value to the overall financial system. Title I puts in statute protections for American businesses. To grow our economy, businesses should use their scarce capital to buy new equipment, to hire more workers, to build new facilities, and to invest in the future. They cannot do that if they are required to hold money in margin accounts to fulfill a misguided regulation. Similarly, title II, regarding the treatment of interaffiliate transactions, was also passed by the House multiple times in the 113th Congress, and it will provide additional certainty to American businesses. It will do so by preventing the redundant regulation of harmless interaffiliate transactions that would unnecessarily tie up the working capital of companies, with no added protections for the market or benefits to our consumers. Today, businesses across the Nation rely on the ability to centralize their hedging activities. This consolidation of a hedging portfolio across a corporate group allows businesses to reduce costs, to simplify their financial dealings, and to reduce their counterparty credit risk. Title II of this bill will allow American businesses to continue utilizing this efficient, time- tested model. Finally, title V of H.R. 37 provides much-needed corrections to the swap data repository and clearinghouse indemnification requirements of Dodd-Frank. Currently, Dodd-Frank requires a foreign regulator requesting information from a U.S. swap data repository or derivatives clearing organization to provide a written agreement stating it will abide by certain confidentiality requirements and will indemnify the U.S. Commissions for any expenses arising from litigation relating to the request for that information. The concept of indemnification--requiring a party to contractually agree to pay for another party's possible litigation expenses--is established within U.S. tort law and does not exist in many foreign jurisdictions. Thus, it is not possible for some foreign regulators to agree to these indemnification requirements. This requirement threatens to make data-sharing arrangements with foreign regulators unworkable. H.R. 37 mitigates this problem by simply removing the indemnification provisions in Dodd-Frank while maintaining the prerequisite written agreement requiring certain confidentiality obligations will be met. So, rather than stripping down Dodd-Frank, as we are so often accused of doing, this change would actually serve to enhance market transparency and risk mitigation by ensuring that regulators and market participants have access to a global set of swap market data. As chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and as a cosponsor of each of these three bills in the 113th Congress, I appreciate Mr. Fitzpatrick's work in bringing these provisions together in a package that reduces the regulatory burdens and that promotes economic growth. I strongly urge my colleagues to support the legislation. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, January 7, 2015. Mr. Speaker: I am pleased to see three bills that the House Committee on Agriculture passed in the 113th Congress included as Titles I, II, and V of H.R. 37, ``Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act.'' H.R. 634, H.R. 5471, and H.R. 742, which were also included as Subtitles A, B, and C of Title III of H.R. 4413, ``Customer Protection and End-User Relief Act,'' from the 113th Congress, provide important protections to end-users from costly margining requirements and needless regulatory burdens; as well as correct an unworkable provision in Dodd- Frank which required foreign regulators to break their local laws in order to access the market data they needed to enforce their laws. In support of these titles, I would like to request that the pertinent portions of the Committee on Agriculture report to accompany H.R. 4413 in the 113th Congress be included in the appropriate place in the Congressional Record. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Neugebauer for yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 26, a bill to extend the expiration date of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. I want to thank my good friend and vice chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Randy Neugebauer, for his work in shepherding this bill to the floor again. I would also like to thank him and Chairman Hensarling for fighting hard to include the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act as title III of today's bill. The House Committee on Agriculture, along with the Financial Services Committee, has made moving this legislation a priority. Despite the lengthy title, the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act is not a complicated bill. It fulfills the promise that this body made to our farmers, ranchers, and small businesses when Dodd-Frank was drafted and signed into law that end users would not be treated as financial firms. Yet regulators have narrowly interpreted the exemptions in the black letter of the law, forcing some businesses to leave capital idle in margin accounts, rather than investing in new production and creating jobs. Forcing businesses to post margin not only ties up capital, but also makes it more expensive for firms to utilize the risk management tools that they need to protect their businesses from uncertainty. Today's bill clarifies in statute that Congress meant what it said when it exempted end users from margin and clearing requirements. Specifically, it ensures that those businesses which are exempt from clearing their hedges are also exempt from margining those hedges. This well-reasoned legislation has broad bipartisan support. As a stand-alone bill, the House overwhelmingly supported it last year in June by a vote of 411-12. Since then, we have passed it four more times--and if we pass it today, a fifth time--which means we will keep doing it until we get it right. I am hopeful that with today's vote, we can finally offer farmers, ranchers, and businesses the relief we promised them almost 5 years ago. Again, I thank Chairman Hensarling and Chairman Neugebauer for including the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act in today's bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 26. House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, January 7, 2014. Mr. Speaker: I am pleased to see the inclusion H.R. 634, Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stability Act, from the 113th Congress as Title III of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act. This language, which was also included as Subtitle of Title III of H.R. 4413, Customer Protection and End-User Relief Act, from the 113th Congress provides an important protection to end-users from costly margining requirements that will divert much needed capital away from job creation. In support of this title, I would like to request that the pertinent portions of the Committee on Agriculture report to accompany H.R. 4413 be included in the appropriate place in the Congressional Record. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Colonel Charles Powell and Mrs. Joanne Powell on celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. It is an honor to recognize the lives of two distinguished citizens in San Angelo, Texas. The Powells first met when they were in the same preschool class in Nashville, Arkansas and their love for each other grew throughout their grade school and high school years. Shortly after completing his appointment at the Naval Academy, Charles commissioned into the Air Force as a pilot, while Joanne completed her degree at Southern Arkansas University. Shortly after, the couple wedded on December 21, 1954. Charles' decorated career in the Air Force eventually led the Powells to San Angelo. Charles served as the base commander of Goodfellow Air Force Base from 1980-1984. Soon after their arrival, the Powells' impact could be felt by the communities of San Angelo and Goodfellow. When they moved to San Angelo, Charles was ordered to help Goodfellow avoid closure and the displacement of many service members from the community they had grown to love. The impacts of Charles' career can still be felt today at Goodfellow Air Force Base, as it serves as a training school for thousands of service members from across all branches to train in cryptology, intelligence, and firefighting. After his retirement from the Air Force, Charles went on to serve as vice president of Southwest Bank, known today as First Financial. Along with serving the community as a banker, Charles, as well as Joanne, sit on several different boards that help San Angelo continue to be a model community in our nation. Joanne has assisted constituents in my district office my entire tenure, a service that started long ago while working for both Rep. Tom Loeffler and Rep. Lamar Smith. One of the several duties Joanne has helped with is our annual military service academy 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. Her compassion and dedication has made her a special piece of my team. Words cannot express how grateful I am of her dedication to the community. Charles' and Joanne's love of San Angelo has made them institutional figures in the community. In numerous initiatives to help the community, they have often been the bridge joining San Angelo and Goodfellow. Joanne and Charles' commitment to San Angelo, the state of Texas and this nation is the same commitment that they show to each other, and that is what makes their relationship with the community special. Along with San Angelo, Suzanne, and I hold a special place in our hearts for the Powells. The Powells' commitment and faith to each other has set an example for all of us to be inspired by. I am happy to have the opportunity to help celebrate this special day. Their love for one another and their community represents an important part of the San Angelo story. Again, I offer my congratulations to Joanne and Charles-- Happy 60th Anniversary!

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Foster Communications in San Angelo, Texas on their 60th anniversary. Throughout the years, Foster Communications has been an essential part of the community and has grown side-by-side with San Angelo. Foster Communications opened their doors in San Angelo in 1954. Foster Communications began with the vision of Walton A. Foster. He was a forerunner in bringing radio and television to the Concho Valley. Foster pioneered many radio traditions that are present today, such as having a weekly top forty hit list. Walton and the Foster Communications family has been a staple in San Angelo since 1954. Over the past six decades, the company has created four successful radio stations that serve San Angelo and surrounding communities. Additionally, Foster was the longtime and original voice of the San Angelo Colts baseball team. Foster also assisted in the success of many programs at Angelo State University, and in his honor, ASU named their Ram Radio studios after him. Today, the Foster Family preserves Walton's vision for the company by carrying on the values he instilled in his company. He believed that the license he received from the FCC was to serve the greater good of the public by providing San Angelo with exceptional informational and entertainment radio. This was a responsibility he took personally and it still shows today. His work of serving others has continued with the sponsorship of various charitable causes, most notably the KIXY Cares for Kids Radio which has raised nearly $1.5 million for the Children's Miracle Network for Shannon Medical Center. As part of his legacy, Foster employees serve as volunteers for more than 50 boards and agencies in San Angelo. I am sure he is proudly looking down on us as he watches his vision continuing to unfold. The Foster Communications family will gather on November 20th to celebrate this tremendous 60-year milestone and reflect on the positive impact they have made on the city of San Angelo. Companies like Foster Communications symbolize the American dream through their hard work and success. I am proud to represent Foster Communications, and I am honored to share in this moment with San Angelo and the Foster family. Again, I congratulate Foster Communications on reaching such a distinguished marker in their company history. I wish them many more years of success in the great city of San Angelo, Texas.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the twenty veterans of the Class of 1964 from Winters High School as they celebrate their 50th class reunion this year. These twenty men embody a spirit that echoes throughout Texas, a spirit that has made America strong. Their decision to join and serve is a reflection of their love for country and the understanding that everyone has a part to play in making our nation great. Winters High School wishes to honor these proud Blizzards: Kenneth Adams, United States Army; Adolfo Arroyo, United States Air Force (ret.); Glynn Awalt, National Guard; Dickie Bellis, United States Army; Alan Benson, United States Marine Corps; Ricky Boles, United States Army; Ronald Colburn, United States Army; Lynn Cornelius, United States Navy; Earl Green, United States Air Force; William Green, United States Army (ret.); B.M. Grenwelge, Jr., National Guard; Steve Grissom, United States Army; Gary Hester, United States Army and National Guard (ret.); Mike Hill, National Guard; Johnney Hopper, United States Army; Charles Nitsch, United States Army; Mike Mitchell, United States Army; Louis Simpson, United States Marine Corps; Arnold Thormeyer, United States Air Force; Marcelo Torres, United States Army. These veterans embody the qualities that are necessary to serve a greater good, without which, our nation could not secure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, we show our debt of gratitude for these men and women and the displays of greatness that have defined us as a nation. Colleagues, please join me in honoring these veterans and their families for their dedication and service to our great nation.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Clara I. Sissel of Odessa, Texas. Since 2002, Ms. Sissel has sent more than 1,200 care packages to our armed services members stationed overseas. For her efforts, she is being honored by her family, friends, and the members of the Omni Club for her tireless and selfless service to our armed forces. Ms. Sissel has made her care packages, or love boxes as she prefers to call them, a personal mission to show each service member that someone back home is thinking of them and cares about their well being. Although fourteen years is a long time, her service did not start in 2002. Ms. Sissel started her mission during the Vietnam War. Through the years, she has sent at least one package per week at her own expense. As a token of remembrance, Ms. Sissel has created scrap books containing every letter that she has received from recipients of her care packages. However, her efforts did not stop at her front door. Ms. Sissel has also led many Odessa organizations to join her mission in showing our armed service members that they are in our thoughts and prayers back home. She has brought together the VFW and local churches to help in running community care package drives. These care package drives allow people to donate goods or their time to help fill care packages for our veterans. Clara Sissel's selflessness and determined dedication embody the American spirit and has lifted the hearts of thousands of service members worldwide. Her weekly token of appreciation reminds our service members that their daily sacrifices are not taken for granted, and I am sure they are thankful for Ms. Sissel's support. I am honored to recognize her as a true patriot in our community and to share her story with you all today.