K. Conaway

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer a prayer for the victims of the tragic violence in Odessa, Texas, on August 31. The victims were: Mary Granados, Leilah Hernandez, Edwin Peregrino, Joe Griffith, Rodolfo Julio Arco, Kameron Karltess Brown, and Raul Garcia. Heavenly Father, we come to You today asking for prayer, asking for peace that passes all understanding on the men and women in Odessa, Texas, and the families of the suffering. We ask that You wrap Your loving arms around them at this dark hour in their lives. Thank You, dear Heavenly Father. We ask these things in Jesus' name. I would also like to recognize the law enforcement officers and first responders of Midland and Odessa who acted quickly and courageously in their response to this tragedy. We owe these brave men and women more gratitude than words can express.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Midland Sheriff Gary Painter, who was taken from us far too soon. Sheriff Gary Painter served Midland County with unconditional dedication for 34 years, and will be remembered by West Texans as a patriot of integrity and valor. Sheriff Painter is a native Texan, growing up a farming community north of Lubbock where his family planted cotton and grains. After graduating from Plainview High School, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and dutifully served his nation through two tours of duty in Vietnam. His unrelenting dedication to our country earned him the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Ribbon with 6 devices, the Presidential Unit Commendation, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. He was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Sergeant on August 31, 1970. Upon his return to Texas, he began his career in law enforcement, working for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Culberson County's Sheriff's Office, Presidio County's Sheriff's Office, and the Midland Police Department before joining the Midland County Sheriff's Office in 1982. Throughout his nine terms as Sheriff of Midland County, Gary dedicated himself to improving the office. He utilized the latest technologies, helping law enforcement work faster, smarter, and better. He also notably organized the first multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force in West Texas, keeping our community safer. Sheriff Painter has left behind a huge pair of boots to fill. His legacy as a courageous, selfless, public servant will be remembered and honored by all those he inspired over his decades of service. Gary has left behind his wife, Patsy, five children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. God Bless his family and loved ones during this difficult time of loss. Suzanne and I will continue to pray as our community mourns.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, I would like to reiterate that the establishment of such a center should be debated properly within the House Intelligence Committee. It should also be informed by the report that the gentleman was successful in adding to the fiscal 2018 and 2019 Intelligence Authorization Acts, and such debate should focus on the merits of the center, given existing efforts, as well as whether or not the ODNI should house the center. Until that report is finished, and then the debate happens, I would urge a ``no'' vote on the amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Chair, before I get to my objections to the amendment, I want to congratulate the chairman, the majority members of the committee, as well as the majority staff for the great work they did in helping us bring a fully bipartisan bill to the floor, which I fully intend to support. They also helped us navigate the intricacies of the Rules Committee so that what we are debating tonight, with the amendments that were put forward, we will be able to support this bill on the floor tomorrow or whenever they decide to bring it up. I thank the chairman for the good work that they put into it. Madam Chair, I do, though, rise in opposition to this amendment. For the past several years, the House Intelligence Committee has spent a significant amount of time overseeing the intelligence community's ongoing efforts to counter foreign malign influence targeting the United States. Although Russia gains significant and necessary attention given the events of 2016, the committee is also concerned about Chinese, Iranian, and other foreign powers that have designs on sowing discord in the United States or covertly influencing the American populace. The amendment today would establish a foreign threat response center within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. While I believe my colleague from Massachusetts offers this amendment with the best of intentions, it is clearly redundant to existing efforts and creates an additional and potentially unnecessary bureaucracy within an organization that may not be best suited to take the lead on these actions. This issue is not new. Last Congress, we worked with the gentleman from Massachusetts in adding a report to the fiscal 2018 and 2019 IAAs that would examine the necessity of a foreign malign influence response center. This report remains in the bill, given that it is a 3-year bill. I am not convinced of the necessity of such a center, given the ongoing efforts by our intelligence community to address this problem. However, even assuming its necessity, I am concerned that the ODNI may not be the best place for such a center. Based on our ongoing oversight efforts, we know that the interagency is taking the threat of foreign malign influences very seriously. Given the significant counterintelligence impact to the homeland, it may make more sense to house such an entity within the FBI. I don't believe in putting the cart before the horse. It is important for us to collect all the necessary information in order for Congress to make an informed decision after significant debate on the merits of such a center and whether the ODNI is the right home for it. This debate should happen within the Intelligence Committee. To date, that debate has not occurred. This amendment would also set up a board to oversee the work of the Foreign Intelligence Center, which would then be overseen by the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. Again, a redundancy that is, in my estimation, not necessary. Madam Chair, based on these foregoing reasons, I will oppose the gentleman's amendment and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote against it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and to concur in that Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and can be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, it is with a bittersweet heart today that I rise to recognize my current chief of staff, Mark Williams. Mark will finish 16 years of service with the House of Representatives and be moving on to the private sector. He has been my chief for 4\1/2\ years. He served, faithfully, Todd Rokita, Sam Johnson, and myself. He is one of those quiet professionals who makes this place work. He is a consummate professional, and I am a better Member of Congress because of his wise counsel, his advice, his hard work, and his dedication to my team and our team. I wish he and his wife, Noel; son, Nolan; and daughter, Katherine all the best and Godspeed in this next endeavor. They will be missed. Although we won't see them on a day-to-day basis, they are still a part of Team Conaway and also my family. Mr. Speaker, I wish Mark good luck. We love him.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2019 Congressional Art Competition winner from Texas' 11th District, Ms. Rylee Braden. Rylee's piece was chosen to be displayed in the tunnels under the U.S. Capitol, where Members of Congress, staff, and visitors from around the country can view and appreciate it for a full year. Rylee is a very accomplished senior at Wall High School where she excels in academics, athletics, and art. Her drawing titled ``Mamaw Molded Me'' depicts the time-worn, loving hands of her grandmother that she drew using charcoal and colored pencils. Rylee's Mamaw, Rosalie Sturm, told me that although she has always wanted to, she has never had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. Now through her granddaughter's rendering of her hands, a little piece of her will not only travel to Washington but will be displayed in the Capitol itself. I am proud to have the 11th District represented by a piece that speaks to the wisdom that is passed down through generations and the impact of a loving parent and grandparent. Again, I congratulate Rylee on her achievement and look forward to seeing her art every day when I walk to and from the Capitol.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Chairwoman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. For over 3 years, the House Intelligence Committee posted bipartisan classified and unclassified education sessions for Members to learn about FISA section 702. FISA section 702 is a critical national security authority that has helped the United States collect vital intelligence on terrorists and other hostile actors located overseas. After vigorous debate, we were able to pass a bipartisan, bicameral compromise bill in the last Congress that preserved the operational flexibility of section 702 while instituting reforms to further protect U.S. persons' privacy. President Trump signed this legislation into law in January of 2018. The amendment today seeks to reopen a debate that was settled last Congress. Rather than debating this issue within the relevant committees of jurisdiction, however, Members who lost the debate last year now seek to have another bite at that apple to subvert the legislative process by bypassing those committees. If passed, I fear this amendment will have devastating consequences on our national security. First, the amendment creates new, strict requirements on targeting of foreign actors overseas just because the hostile foreign actor is communicating with an associate in the United States. If this amendment were to pass, if a terrorist located in a foreign country communicates with conspirators located in the United States, the intelligence community might not be able to use section 702 to target that terrorist because he is communicating with a person in the United States. For example, the intelligence community was able to thwart Najibullah Zazi's planned terrorist attack to detonate explosives in Manhattan. If this amendment were enacted, the FBI and NSA might not have been able to use 702 to target the al-Qaida courier in Pakistan communicating back to conspirators in the United States, thus resulting in another terrorist attack in New York City. Section 702 was enacted to prevent this type of event. This example illustrates the amendment's callous disregard for the history of the program. Second, the amendment would limit NSA's abouts communication collection. Abouts communication collection takes place in NSA's upstream collection, and due to how internet communications work, allows NSA to collect the communications that may reference a 702 target's email address. Again, we debated this issue last Congress and placed a statutory restriction on NSA's ability to continue abouts collection until meeting certain requirements. I strongly urge opposition to this amendment.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the unveiling of over thirty pieces of art from the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts in the European Union Ambassador's Residence in Washington, D.C. on June 20, 2019. These works date back to the 1920's and represent a variety of creative approaches and artistic styles. The ceramic pieces, by renowned artists from all over the world, range from functional to sculptural to abstract, and the paintings and sculptures by Texas artists are hallmark examples of movements such as surrealism, American regionalism, minimalism, and impressionism. Texas has a rich, multicultural history that is well-represented through this collection. I am incredibly honored to have these pieces from Texas' 11th District on display in the Ambassador's home where they will be viewed and appreciated by individuals from across the world. It is a historic feat for art from an American museum to be displayed in a foreign diplomatic residence, and I am proud to have San Angelo and Texan artists represented on the world stage in this way. I would like to specifically recognize the artists from Texas who will have their work displayed: Randy Brodnax, Vorakit Chinookoswong, Fidencio Duran, Altha Leona Edge, Juan Granados, W. Frederick Jarvis, Chapman Kelley, Lebeth Lammers, Ben Livingston, Otis Lumpkin, Patricia Nix, and one of San Angelo's very own world-renowned artist, Rene Alvarado, who also assisted with the transport and install of the art. This exhibition is a testament to the excellent leadership of the museum, and the commitment of the community to strive for excellence. I would like to thank the Director of the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, Howard Taylor, as well as the Museum's board and staff members. I also want to recognize the European Ambassador to the United States, for his generosity in displaying these works and opening his home to Texas art and culture.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the unveiling of over thirty pieces of art from the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts in the European Union Ambassador's Residence in Washington, D.C. on June 20, 2019. These works date back to the 1920's and represent a variety of creative approaches and artistic styles. The ceramic pieces, by renowned artists from all over the world, range from functional to sculptural to abstract, and the paintings and sculptures by Texas artists are hallmark examples of movements such as surrealism, American regionalism, minimalism, and impressionism. Texas has a rich, multicultural history that is well-represented through this collection. I am incredibly honored to have these pieces from Texas' 11th District on display in the Ambassador's home where they will be viewed and appreciated by individuals from across the world. It is a historic feat for art from an American museum to be displayed in a foreign diplomatic residence, and I am proud to have San Angelo and Texan artists represented on the world stage in this way. The artists from Texas who will have their art displayed are: Randy Brodnax, Vorakit Chinookoswong, Fidencio Duran, Altha Leona Edge, Juan Granados, W. Frederick Jarvis, Chapman Kelley, Lebeth Lammers, Ben Livingston, Otis Lumpkin, Patricia Nix, and one of San Angelo's very own world-renowned artist, Rene Alvarado, who also assisted with the transport and install of the art. I would like to recognize Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis, the European Ambassador to the United States, for his generosity in displaying these works and opening his home to Texas art and culture. Additionally, I want to thank his wife, Mrs. Phoebe Kapouano, for her efforts in personally selecting the works to be displayed. This exhibition is a testament to the benevolence of Ambassador Lambrinidis, the excellent leadership of the museum, and the commitment of the San Angelo community to strive for excellence.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a longtime good friend of mine named Jimmie Lee Mason from Lubbock, Texas. Jimmie Lee was a CPA, a consummate professional, and someone who took his profession very seriously and helped create the firm Mason Warner, which is in existence today. Jimmie Lee passed away on April 5, 2019. He was 89 years old and leaves a giant hole in the hearts of his family, as you might expect. I first met Jimmie Lee when I joined the State Board of Accountancy in Texas. Jimmie Lee, for whatever reason, and I will now never know, chose to take me under his wing. He mentored me. He was a wise counselor. As a result of his friendship and his help, I was able to chair the State Board of Accountancy, and I was able to chair the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. I did that work much better and more professionally because of my friendship and his leadership and help throughout that process. My story is only one of many, many like it. Jimmie served the Texas State Society of CPAs throughout his entire career. There are countless other CPAs who could have the exact same conversation with you that I am having this morning as a result of his friendship and his leadership. Jimmie leaves behind a wife of 66 years, Wanda; son Jimmie Lee Mason, Jr.; daughter Kristi Killion and her husband, Jerry; son Greg and his wife, Areace; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jimmie Lee, everywhere he touched got better, whether it was a not- for-profit organization in Lubbock that he served or his profession that he served diligently for all those years. Countless individuals whom he came in contact with are much better off, none more so than the fellow who stands in front of you here today. My life is better as a result of my friendship with Jimmie Lee Mason, and I miss my friend.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam 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 own freedom, but that of other nations as well. 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. This year, the Granbury community will host their annual ``Field of Flags,'' which is a memorial of over a thousand flags flying along Highway 377. These flags are dedicated to the lives of those that were killed in action or that are still missing in action. Attending Memorial Day events like the ``Field of Flags'' this weekend is imperative to teaching younger generations about the sacrifices that our military and first-responders make so that we may continue 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. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 87 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: Benjamin Acosta, Clinton Adams, Lawrence Adams, George Alexander, Wanliss Armstrong, Edward Atwood, James Basse, Robert Bennett, Thomas Bright, Sidney Bryan, Michael Chaney, Clarence Chapman, Mary Cheek, Richard Cotte, Troy Crosby, William Decker, Jr., David Dilbeck, Truett Eaton, Raymond Flores, Paul Flynn, Jr., Richard Galloway, Jackie Green, Larry Griffith, Gilberto Guzman, Stephen Harrison, John Hufford, Donald Hunt, Daniel Jacques, Enrique Jaramillo, Jr., Raymond Jenkins, Darrell Johnson, Melvin Johnson, Henry Kalawe, Jr., Stanley Klett, Arthur Laengrich, Larry Laengrich, Robert Lathrop, Horace Lloyd, Daryl Locker, Guadalupe Madrid, Alonzo Martinez, Haskell Mayo, Jr., Mickey McCown, Curtis McFarland, Jr., James McKinzie, Jr., Earl Moize, Thomas Molder III, Travis Monday, Eugene Morgan, Stanley Mulsow, Curtis Nicholson, Warren Oakley, Joe Padilla, Lupe Padilla, Solon Page, Armando Perales, Marion Pride, Johnnye Proctor, David Reeves, Lloyd Ritchey, Donald Rogers, Doyle Schwartz, Robert Schoff, Jr., Don Seales, Wesley Seales, Tommy Seward, Joan Shannon, Joseph Smith III, Robert Sorem, Perry Stevens, Marion Stone, Bobby Stringer, Alfonso Telck, Bobby Trammell, Edward Twood, Gumecindo Urias, Antonio Urias, Santiago Urias, Jr., Steve Wagner, Alvin Wankowski, Douglas Wankowski, Kenneth Warrington, Gary Watkins, Ben Webb, Danny Whitaker, Kenneth Winford, and Tony Yzaguirre. Madam 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 they will be able to reflect on the gratitude and respect that Americans have for them as 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. John West and Mrs. Teresa Galloway 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. Madam Speaker, if that is the case, I would ask the Speaker and the majority leader to immediately bring that bill to the floor to allow us all to stand up for the sanctity of life.

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, to protect the right to life for innocent children who are born alive instead of allowing the State-sponsored murder after birth, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the career of Ramona Thomas and celebrate her upcoming retirement on June 3, 2019. Ramona has dedicated 29 years to serving the Permian Basin. Ramona began her tenure with Permian Basin Community Centers, now known as PermiaCare, as a Staff Accountant in 1990, and almost twenty- nine years later, she will be retiring as the Chief Executive Officer, a position she's held since November of 2014. PermiaCare provides integral mental health, intellectual and developmental disability, and substance-abuse disorder services, and Ramona's leadership in the organization has attributed to their ability to expand into the leading expert in behavioral health and development disability services in the Permian Basin. In addition to being an integral leader in PermiaCare, she has also served through various capacities in numerous professional organizations. Ramona has also gone above and beyond as an active leader in the community. She regularly volunteers with the Rotary Club, Leadership Midland, the Midland Behavioral Health Leadership Team, and the United Way of Midland. I worked directly with Ms. Thomas during my time on the Board of Directors for Permian Basin Community Centers, during which time she was the Chief Financial Officer. I found her to execute her work precisely, and she led her agency to be ranked consistently as one of the best in Texas. I'll always remember Ms. Thomas' personable demeanor, unquestionable talent, and as a joy to work with. On behalf of the 11th District of Texas, congratulations to Ramona Thomas on her retirement. I look forward to seeing what she will accomplish in this next chapter.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Section 7: ``All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. ``Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law. ``Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.''

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for this vote as I was at the White House for the signing of the 2018 Farm Bill. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on rollcall No. 467.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of The Honorable Mike Bradford. After twenty years of public service to Midland County, Judge Bradford--Mike--will retire in January 2019. Mike served eight years as County Commissioner for Precinct Two, from 1999 to 2007. In 2006, he was then elected County Judge, and he will have served in that office for twelve years, or three terms. While in office, Mike has shepherded Midland County through times of boom and times of bust, which is the nature of an economy based primarily on the oil and gas industry. All the while, conducting the affairs of the county with competence, professionalism, and care. During Mike's tenure, the Commissioners Court has cut the tax rate by over forty percent, maintaining the lowest county tax rate in Texas over the last nine years, and a reduction of the county's debt. At the same time, the county facilities have been majorly upgraded with the construction of the Midland County Courthouse, Centennial Library, and Horseshoe Arena, Pavilion, and Amphitheater. Like me, Mike was not born in the Permian Basin, but he got there as soon as he could. He graduated with, both, bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas Christian University. He moved to Midland, the hometown of his wife, Ann, in the 1970's. They have been an integral part of the community ever since. He and Ann have been married for 46 years, and they have two daughters, Lauren and Heather. I want to thank Mike for his many years of dedicated service. Midland is a better place, because of your leadership.

Mr. CONAWAY

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2.

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1176, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 2) to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2023, and for other purpose, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the conference report to H.R. 2, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. It is fitting that the House today consider that farm bill because, 28 years ago, another proud Texan, President George H.W. Bush, signed into law the 1990 farm bill. For the first time since 1990, Congress is poised to pass a new farm bill in the same year that the legislation was first introduced. In many ways, the 1990 farm bill laid the groundwork for today's U.S. farm policy. The U.S. farm policy is no longer the old command and control policies of the New Deal, but, rather, a market-oriented, risk management approach that helps America's farmers and ranchers survive natural disasters and the predatory trade practices of foreign countries like China. Our Nation's farmers and ranchers are the very best in the world, but they cannot compete alone against a sea of high and rising foreign subsidies, tariffs, and nontariff trade barriers, nor can they survive alone in the face of record droughts, hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters. That is why we have a farm bill. Mr. Speaker, not since the early 2000s has a farm bill been more desperately needed than it is today. Our farmers and ranchers are going through a very difficult recession right now. Net farm income is down 50 percent from where it stood just 5 years ago, the largest drop since the Great Depression. And farm bankruptcies are more up by more than 30 percent. We have all seen the devastation of recent wildfires and hurricanes. Less noticed, but no less destructive, is the severe drought that has gripped many parts of the country, perhaps none more so than the one I get to represent. Even less noticed is the rampant cheating going on in the global trade that hurts our farmers and ranchers every single day. China recently oversubsidized just three crops by more than $100 billion in a single year. Put in perspective, China spent more on excess illegal subsidies in a year than the entire U.S. safety net covering all commodities will cost in roughly two farm bills. That is why passage of this farm bill is so important. The farm bill is never easy to pass. The needs of our farmers and ranchers are greater than they have ever been in a long time, but we have operated under a flat budget. For my colleagues who are concerned about the deficit spending, please note that this farm bill is budget neutral. This follows on the heels of the 2014 farm bill that has come in significantly under budget also. Mr. Speaker, here are some specifics of the 2018 farm bill: First, the farm bill honors the request of nearly every farmer and rancher that we do no harm to Federal crop insurance. Second, we strengthen the farm bill safety net for all farmers and ranchers. Believe it or not, there was actually pressure from some in the other Chamber to cut the farm safety net at a time when the whole point of a farm bill is to help our farm and ranch families. Third, we strengthened key conservation initiatives, especially the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. These highly successful conservation initiatives serve as a prime example of how voluntary, incentive-based conservation beats burdensome, arbitrary, and costly Washington regulations every single time. Fourth, we honored the requests of farmers and ranchers to fully fund our trade promotion initiatives, which could not be more important than they are right now. This includes fully funding the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program. We also succeeded in maintaining the vital link between America's farmers and ranchers and U.S. food aid by preserving the in-kind food assistance to our neighbors in need from around the world. Fifth, we make some extremely important investments elsewhere in this farm bill: We increase individual Farm Service Agency loan limits, which have not been updated in 16 years; we increase agriculture research funding at a time when we are dangerously lagging behind China. We also provide Secretary Perdue with the tools he requested to effectively combat the opioid epidemic and also to expand high-quality broadband service in all of rural America. We increase investment in new crop uses and in specialty crops, including fruits and vegetables, and we increase investments in the Nation's livestock sector by strengthening our Nation's animal disease prevention and management efforts, including the stockpiling of foot- and-mouth disease vaccine. Finally, it is fair to say that there has been philosophical differences in this conference committee. Achieving commonsense SNAP reforms, preventing wildfires, and providing regulatory relief are just three of the examples. Despite this, we made commonsense reforms and improved the program integrity and work requirements under SNAP, including involving Governors in the work requirement waivers so that there is political accountability and by reducing State allowances for able-bodied adults without dependents. We required States to adopt case management practices to help move SNAP beneficiaries from welfare to work, and we eliminate $480 million in bonuses we pay to States for simply doing their jobs. These and other reforms will build on the success we have had in moving more than 9 million people off of SNAP rolls and into the workforce over the past 5 years. The farm bill will also reduce the forest fuel loads to reduce the incidence and intensity of wildfires. This is achieved by expanding the insect and disease categorical exclusion to remove hazardous fuel loads and empowering State, local, and Tribal authorities to remove timber. Nobody deserves more credit for working to improve our Nation's forest management than my friend Bruce Westerman from Arkansas, whom I am proud to have as a signatory on this conference report. These reforms are important, and they are only a start in what we need to be done. Ultimately, we had to make a decision between making as many inroads on reform in these areas as we could or allow farmers and ranchers to be held hostage. Faced with that choice, I chose the route of getting this farm bill done. We made important inroads wherever we could on these reforms. We worked to provide the strongest safety net possible for our Nation's farmers and ranchers. In closing, I thank Ranking Member Peterson and our counterparts in the other Chamber for bringing this conference report to final consideration. I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump and Secretary Perdue for their unwavering support of our farmers and ranchers, and I greatly appreciate the support and hard work of House leadership and members of my Conference, especially my fellow conferees, for all they have done to stand by rural America and those families who feed and clothe us. For the sake of rural America and our struggling farmers and ranchers, I urge my colleagues to support this farm bill so the President can sign this measure into law. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), the former chairman of the committee and current chairman of the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.