John Curtis

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak against the medical device tax. Utah has earned a reputation as a thriving hub for innovation in life sciences, leading the Nation in technology breakthroughs. Each year, medical device manufacturers in Utah pioneer new, exciting medical technologies that help patients live longer and more productive lives. Unfortunately, the culture of collaboration and innovation has been threatened by the medical device tax, a tax on device manufacturers that has stalled medical technology investment across the country. Although Congress has come together on a bipartisan basis time and time again to delay its implementation, the continuous threat of heavy, onerous taxation has stifled job growth among medical technology innovators and has delayed cutting-edge research that could potentially lead to breakthroughs in patient care and treatment. As it stands today, this tax will come into effect January 1, 2020. The impact would be devastating in Utah, where the med tech industry employs thousands of Utahns and contributes approximately $5 billion to the local economy. One local company estimated the tax would cost them over $7 million, money that would otherwise be reinvested into workforce and technology development. As we approach this January deadline, I call upon my colleagues to come together and finally repeal the tax on innovation once and for all. Our Relationship with Israel

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight our critical relationship with Israel, an alliance not only important to our two countries, but to the tectonic plates of global geopolitics. I was pleased to both cosponsor and vote in favor of the United States-Israel Cooperation Enhancement and Regional Security Act and the resolution opposing the efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Disinvestment, and Sanctions movement targeting Israel, two important legislative priorities, because I believe Israel's safety and security is critical to our own safety and security. More importantly, it is the right thing to do. I have shared with my colleagues on the House Foreign Affairs Committee that Israel holds a special place in my heart. As a college student 40 years ago, I had the opportunity to spend a semester in Jerusalem and get to know the people and cultures. I developed a unique appreciation and understanding for the struggles they face on a daily basis. As many of us know, the BDS movement exists solely to delegitimize Israel's very existence, and I am proud of the House of Representatives coming together on a bipartisan basis with a unified voice that we will not stand idly by while one of our closest allies is targeted and vilified. The path to peace between Israel and Palestine will not be hindered by that kind of blind hatred. Although this BDS resolution sends a critical message, it falls short of what is ultimately needed to address the long-term challenges. I am hopeful that the House will consider stronger legislation with actual binding policy provisions to help the United States stand with Israel against BDS. I am prepared to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address these issues and those facing our allies.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1365. As the gentleman has so well already explained, this bill would authorize the release of certain funds from the Guam Treasury that have been set aside to pay Guam World War II survivor claims. Many individuals living on the island during the Japanese occupation suffered injury and, in some cases, death. In 2016, Congress enacted the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act to provide for the adjudication of claims and for the payment of compensation as recommended by the Guam War Claims Review Commission in their 2004 report. However, legislation and language in the act unintentionally prevented funds from being provided to World War II survivors and their heirs. This bill fixes the original act's language to ensure survivors can receive these claims. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure. I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 434, which would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the proposed Emancipation National Historic Trail. This 51-mile trail follows the migration route taken by newly freed slaves and other persons of African descent from the major 19th-century seaport town of Galveston to the burgeoning community of Freedmen's Town in Houston. Although President Abraham Lincoln officially ended slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, many slaves were not freed until much later when news of the proclamation reached their towns. The last of those slaves lived in the South and were freed on June 19, 1865, after the Emancipation Proclamation was read in Galveston. On January 1, 1866, the Emancipation Proclamation was read at the African Methodist Episcopal Church on 20th and Broadway, now Reedy Chapel. A large number of the freed slaves marched from the courthouse on 21st and Ball Streets to the church, where the director of the Freedmen's Bureau read the proclamation to the marchers. The Emancipation Proclamation is still read at the church each year at the Juneteenth celebration. Houston, Texas, has rich ties to African American history. The Emancipation Trail proposed by H.R. 434 ends in Freedmen's Town and Emancipation Park in Houston. Freedmen's Town is one of the first and the largest of the post-Civil War Black urban communities in Texas. The community was established by former Texas slaves who left their plantations for the safety of Houston. Emancipation Park is also significant to Houston African American history. In the years following the emancipation of slaves in Texas, African American populations across Texas collected money to buy property dedicated to the Juneteenth celebrations. In honor of their freedom, they named it Emancipation Park. This bill is an important reminder of the struggles of African Americans throughout our Nation's history as we have worked to form a more perfect union. I support Ms. Jackson Lee's efforts to study the proposed trail and highlight the important African American history of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 759, sponsored by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), would amend the act of Congress that restored Federal recognition to the two Tribes in Texas that are the subject of this bill. The amendment would override a gaming limitation imposed by Congress on the Tribes, thereby authorizing the Tribes to operate the casinos regulated under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 and not under Texas law. The question of whether Texas law or the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act applies to the two Tribes is no longer under serious dispute. Federal courts have settled the question, and the result of the litigation is that the two Tribes may not conduct gaming under IGRA unless Congress enacts a measure to allow them to do so. This bill enjoys significant local support in the communities around the reservations of the two Tribes, and the Members who represent the Tribes strongly support enactment of the measure because the reservations, where the casinos would be operated, are within their districts. However, while the bill enjoys support in Texas, I must note that the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has written letters to the House leaders and committee leaders in opposition to the legislation. In the view of the Governor, this bill allows the Tribes to violate the Texas constitution without the consent of the State of Texas. It is my hope that such concerns with the measure can be worked out as the legislative process continues. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). (Mr. YOUNG asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd).

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in strong support of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. In recent years, Utah has witnessed incredible growth in our tech and innovation sector, bringing thousands of jobs and strengthening our economy. However, everywhere I go, I hear from business leaders that they do not have enough high-skilled workers. Even as we work to strengthen STEM education and bolster the number of homegrown engineers and programers, the demand continues to outstrip the supply. Current limitations in our immigration system are forcing talented engineers who have trained in our universities to remain on temporary visas or leave entirely for competing countries, while important jobs go unfilled and economic opportunities are lost. This legislation will create a first-come-first-served system, providing certainty to workers and families and enabling U.S. companies to flourish and compete in a global economy as they hire the brightest people to create products, services, and jobs, regardless of where they were born. As these companies expand operations with greater input from high-skilled workers, they create countless more American jobs. Mr. Speaker, with the debate around our broken immigration system growing increasingly challenging in recent years, I have been thrilled to see this bipartisan groundswell of support around this effort. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Equality Act. First and foremost, I must begin by saying that I believe the LGBTQ community is a critical part of the fabric of our country. They are deserving of our unequivocal love and respect, and their contributions to my home State of Utah are utterly invaluable. As the mayor of Provo, I prioritized inclusion and love, and sought to ensure my administration did everything possible to recognize the intrinsic value of all of our citizens, including our LGBTQ community. I fought hard against discrimination and was grateful for my associations with organizations like Provo Pride, Equality Utah, Encircle, and others, who I was honored to stand with to ensure that our city motto of ``Welcome Home'' extended to everyone. Perhaps even more important than that, I am grateful for the association and relationships of my life that have helped me better understand the experiences of the LGBTQ community, and who have been patient with me, a conservative Utah boy raised in the 1960s, who took longer than I am proud of to gain empathy for this important issue. Again, I say I am incredibly grateful for the contribution of the LGBTQ community and will always stand with them in respect and support. With the Equality Act, we face a unique challenge: balancing the needs and protections against discrimination with the importance of protecting religious liberty, which is one of the fundamental rights enshrined at the foundation of our Nation. I believe this compromise is possible, because I have seen it before in my home State with historic legislation called the Utah Compromise that effectively balanced the absolute rights of both LGBTQ individuals as human beings and religious institutions protected by the First Amendment. The Equality Act fails to strike that balance. Instead, these two interests are treated as zero sum games, with no good-faith effort put forth for both sides to win. This bill would end longstanding religious liberties under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a historic bipartisan legislative victory fought for by the current Democratic leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer; my own Utah mentor, Orrin Hatch, a Republican; and liberal icon, Ted Kennedy. It was also signed into law by Democrat Bill Clinton. I have introduced commonsense amendments that would help achieve this critical balance of protection for both maintaining the standards against discrimination and religious freedom, but I am frustrated that House Democratic leaders have decided there will not be any consideration or even debate of amendments to the Equality Act. Instead, they have established a model of legislative gas-lighting. In this case, they are taking issues where broad bipartisan agreement is possible and taking the debate right off the table on issue after issue, whether it be climate change, violence against women, and now the Equality Act. They disregard willing partners, such as myself, standing here hoping to work with them, and instead, prefer to pass party-line bills that won't go anywhere so they have issues to campaign on. If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle truly want to achieve progress on this issue, I hope they will recognize that they have a willing partner in me, but they must be willing to work together to legislate and make room to protect both religious liberty and the LGBTQ community. Exploiting yet another group in order to pass a campaign message bill along party lines is not in harmony with this body. I hope they will hear me today and change course before we vote on this bill.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of this amendment to H.R. 2157, increasing funding for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Last year, Utah, like many States in the West, faced devastating wildfires that affected areas of my district. The Pole Creek fire and Bald Mountain fire, which started on Federal land, collectively burned over 117,000 acres and left, damaged, infrastructure and watersheds. Many of my communities affected by the fires need assistance to rebuild and repair the critical watersheds that they rely on, but they have not been able to receive it. For example, Utah County has been approved for over $9 million in aid from NRCS through this program, but inadequate funding means they won't receive those promised dollars. Cleaning up and rebuilding after a wildfire is an important step in protecting against future disasters. I am pleased to support this amendment that will bring aid to communities like Utah County that have been affected by catastrophic natural disasters.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, Utahns believe in being good stewards of our planet, leaving the Earth better than we found it. When I served as the mayor of Provo, we pursued policies to construct LEAD-certified buildings, create more environmentally friendly transit options, and educate our residents on how they can be better stewards of the environment. We considered these efforts to be meaningful steps in the right direction. But, imagine my surprise when I arrived in Congress and learned of the dangerous winner-take-all system of governing that has overtaken Washington, especially on issues impacting the environment. Instead of a pragmatic approach to a positive change through small and consistent consensus, an all-or-nothing approach dominates the debate and villainizes all but the most extreme positions. Congress is a place where ideological purity is rewarded more than results. It is easy to vote on a messaging bill that the sponsor knows will never be passed into law and then go home and take the applause from the like-minded constituents, but it is difficult to leave the echo chambers and work across the aisle with individuals who have different backgrounds than yourself and find common ground. The most obvious example of this is the climate change debate in our country where, today, my Democratic colleagues have taken the easy path. The bill we are voting on today has 224 Democratic sponsors and not a single Republican sponsor. Instead of working with Republicans on our four-part approach to addressing climate change through innovation, conservation, adaptation, and preparation, we are sending a partisan bill to die in the Senate. I attempted to work with my colleagues on this bill. I offered a good-faith amendment that would increase transparency and competition by comparing emissions produced by all the countries in the Paris Agreement. This amendment wasn't even allowed a vote by the Democratic leadership, although there was no problem allowing votes from their Democratic friends' amendments. In fact, only three Republican amendments will be considered, and 26 Democratic amendments will be offered for debate. It is as if my colleagues on the other side are afraid of hurting the feelings of China and Russia by pointing out that they are not pulling their weight. I have long been a proponent for the environment, and I was proud to receive the Utah Clean Air Partnership Person of the Year award in 2017. I have championed hundreds of thousands of acres of bipartisan conservation in Utah. I, like all Utahns, care deeply about conserving our planet and our way of life for future generations, but I cannot vote for H.R. 9 because I believe it further divides us apart, reinforcing the false narrative that all Republicans don't care about the environment because they are unwilling to get on board with an all-or-nothing, unrealistic approach to addressing climate change. H.R. 9 completely ignores the serious and legitimate concerns about the cost and effectiveness of the Paris Agreement. H.R. 9 ignores that President Obama's pledge to the Paris Agreement could cost the United States $250 billion and nearly 3 million jobs in this next 6 years; and it ignores that, in the next 20 years, this commitment could cost us $3 trillion and 6.5 million American jobs. H.R. 9 also ignores that, because of innovation and technological improvement, the United States is already leading the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2000, the United States has decreased annual carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 800 million tons, the largest absolute decline among all countries since 2000. H.R. 9 ignores the fact that, if the United States cut CO2 emissions to zero, it would not even come close to offsetting the emissions coming from the rest of the world. H.R. 9 even ignores that the Paris Agreement allows China, the Earth's largest greenhouse gas polluter, to increase their emissions through 2030 with little evidence to show that they plan to comply in the future. I have heard over and over that the U.S. must remain in the Paris Agreement to show leadership. And I ask you: What kind of leadership leads to double-digit unemployment in rural America but lets China off the hook? I agree that America must continue to show leadership, but let's focus on leadership that goes back to the core principles of innovation, conservation, adaptation, and preparation. This bill fails to do any of that. Let's continue leading the world and bettering our environment, but let's not pretend that H.R. 9 is a silver bullet to our evolving world. I hope that we can stop with the easy, cheap rhetoric that offers false promises and divides our country even further and focus on those things that make meaningful change.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Protecting United States Businesses Abroad Act. This legislation will provide critical protection against corruption by authorizing the President, through the advice of Congress or the State Department, to revoke the visas of those engaging in corruption targeting Americans doing business in emerging markets around the world. This includes, soliciting bribes, extorting payments or assets, manipulating law enforcement, and more. Many businesses, and especially small businesses, do not have the resources to combat this type of corruption overseas. This bill will provide a critical tool for small businesses to invest safely, benefiting our economy and developing markets around the world. I would like to give special thanks to Ranking Member McCaul of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, and Rendeavour, a company that has been directly impacted by this type of corruption overseas.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the service and work of Austin Fulton. Austin has played an instrumental role in setting up my Congressional office. He previously worked for Representative Jason Chaffetz and helped through the successful transition after I was elected to Congress. He was later promoted from Staff Assistant to Legislative Correspondent, where he worked diligently on a variety of policy issues, including housing, veterans, and space policy. Austin had a positive attitude and was willing to help with any task no matter the scope. I am grateful for all his service, and I wish him the best of luck in his next chapter. Despite his departure, he will always be a member of Team Curtis.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain John Frederick Wilson, as he celebrates his 100th birthday. Born on April 2, 1919 and raised in Park City, Utah, John Frederick Wilson, known affectionately as ``Jack'', was one the few pilots trained at BYU. On December 11, 1941, four days after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the Army Air Corps. After learning to fly the four-engine B-24 Liberator bomber--an aircraft featured in the Hollywood film ``Unbroken''--he was assigned to the 90th bombing group in the Fifth Air Force of the Army Air Corps. He was sent by ship to Pearl Harbor, and then to New Guinea, where he became pilot and captain of a ten-member B-24 crew. Jack and his crew were assigned to seek out and destroy the Japanese airstrips in the island Pacific. Given his prowess as a pilot, Jack and his crew were soon reassigned to reconnaissance missions to track the Japanese fleet. His beloved B-24 was stripped of all bombs, bomb bays, machine guns, and other defensive weapons, so that the weight could be replaced with extra gas tanks to support their long-distance reconnaissance missions. His biggest fear rapidly became encountering not enemy aircraft, but running out of fuel. ``My career as a B-24 pilot basically consisted of long periods of boredom punctuated with moments of terror.'' Jack and his crew were dispatched to a small airstrip on an island near Okinawa. They were assigned to fly five days a week to the North China sea, to track the Japanese fleet. He there became as member of the famed ``Jolly Rogers'' and was issued a card that he has carried in his wallet to this day: ``Having been assigned to the best damned heavy bomb group, and having paid his dues, Captain Jack F. Wilson is hereby considered a member in good standing of the Jolly Rogers.'' Jack refused to participate in the demonization of the Japanese that was popular during and after the war. ``There are good people everywhere,'' he taught his children and grandchildren. At one time, a typhoon had threatened the island airstrip and the Okinawan people showed him a cave that he and his B-24 crew sheltered in, thereby saving their lives. After the war, Jack used his flying skills to help locate wildfires and his people skills to create the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, which bears his name. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to honor a native Utahn, the last remaining B-24 pilot from World War II, and extend warm greetings to Mr. Wilson on April 2, 2019, his 100th birthday. We commend him for his life of service and valor in defense of his country.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the leaders in Emery County, Utah, who fought for over two decades to resolve long standing issues facing their county through federal legislation. On March 12th, 2019, President Trump signed into law S. 47, a sweeping public lands bill that included the Emery County Public Lands Management Act, with broad bipartisan support. With this historic achievement, I would like to pay tribute to the exceptional efforts and years of dedication from the Emery County Commissioners, Emery County Public Lands Council, and many other state and local leaders who played an integral role in making this cooperative effort possible. This law will benefit Utahns for decades into the future. This law is a model for how Utahns can work together to solve public land management questions in one of the most unique landscapes of the country. After years of input and stakeholder engagement, this law resolves a number of issues affecting the region through a school land trust exchange, conveying certain lands to Emery County, expanding Goblin Valley State Park, conservation designations, and the creation of the new San Rafael Swell Recreation Area. The bill also decreases the amount of land owned by the federal government in Emery County. There are countless individuals over the years who deserve recognition and made this law possible. Over the last year, since I sponsored the Emery County bill in the House, I would particularly like to recognize: Emery County Commissioners Lynn Sitterud, Kent Wilson, and Gil Conover. Emery County Public Lands Council Members Rod Play (Chair), Edward Geary (Vice Chair), Laren Huntsman, Leon McElprang, Kim McFarlane, J.R. Nelson, Randall Stilson, Sherrel Ward, Les Wilberg, Bruce Wilson, and Ray Petersen (Public Lands Administrator). House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop. Governor Gary Herbert. Senator Mitt Romney. These leaders should all be very proud of what was accomplished with this bill.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained at the White House for a bill signing with President Trump. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 121.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Madam Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 115. Amendment No. 70 Offered by Mr. Neguse

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this very important package, S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. This bill is comprised of dozens of smaller bills, including two that I have had the opportunity to sponsor: the Emery County Public Land Management Act and the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act. The Emery County bill has been a locally driven effort and will bring long-term certainty to the area through various designations and expanding Goblin Valley State Park for better management. It will also generate millions of dollars for Utah school kids through the School Trust Land Exchanges. Also in this package, the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act will ensure access to critical water sources and continue to promote the recovery of four endangered species. There are many, many who deserve praise for their years and decades of work on these bills. I would especially like to thank Republican leader Bishop, who has been invaluable in pushing these bills across the finish line and, on a personal note, has mentored me through very difficult public lands issues. Especially today, I would like to give appreciation and recognition to Emery County commissioners, who had the ability to see into the future to understand how important this was for their county and to work through all the difficult issues. Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle for their willingness to work with me, to see this through our eyes and to explain this through their eyes. I am grateful for the friendships and relationships that I have developed through this process. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing both of my bills headed to the President's desk with the passage of S. 47.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the Transparency in Student Lending Act. College education can be a life-changing investment, but it can come at a tremendous cost. Right now, 44 million Americans collectively hold $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. The Federal Government lends 90 percent of these dollars. However, unlike other lenders, the Federal Government does not provide students with complete information about the total cost of their loan, leaving borrowers unaware of hidden costs and fees until they enter the repayment phase. I have introduced this bill to require complete information be provided to students before they take out a loan. Mr. Speaker, I represent the youngest congressional district in the United States, and many of my constituents are struggling with student debt. With this legislation, we can help young people make fully informed financial decisions for their families and their futures.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Chabot. I rise in support of H.R. 246, the Stimulating Innovation through Procurement Act of 2019. I am pleased to lead as an original coauthor and thank Ms. Finkenauer for her collaboration and effort on this important legislation. Much of the country's success can be attributed to pioneering individuals and small companies, folks wh have discovered a problem and developed an efficient, cost-effective solution. Innovation, research, and advancement in technology are our major drivers in today's postmodern world, and it is critical that we continue promoting the development of new and advanced technologies. I am proud that in my home State of Utah we foster a thriving tech hub and innovation marketplace where the tech industry grew last year faster than any other State in the Nation. But there is still more work to be done in Utah and across the country. This bill reinforces my commitment to small business success by stimulating technology innovation through the Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR program. Through adding critical acquisition personnel into SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, this legislation will ensure these small businesses have a voice in the procurement process and can compete on a level playing field and have a chance at success. It adds zero cost to the taxpayer. This bill is a commonsense, forward-leaning bill that protects Federal investment into innovation and technology research by small businesses and helps these innovators succeed. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and sacrifice of one of Utah's finest. Master Officer Joseph Shinners of the Provo Police Department was, tragically, killed on Saturday night in the line of duty. At the time, he was responding to assist in the arrest of a dangerous fugitive with a history of violence towards citizens and police officers when he was struck by gunfire and died as a result of his injuries. Joe leaves behind his loving wife, Kaylyn, and 1-year-old son, Logan. Mr. Speaker, my heart aches every time an officer is killed in the line of duty, but this one is personal. When Joe made his decision to work for Provo PD, I was his mayor. In a very real way, I feel responsible for his training, his work at Provo City, and his safety. I am deeply saddened by this terrible news. I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives, and I speak for the entire Provo community when I say that Joe is a true hero. He gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect us, and we owe him and his family our deepest gratitude. The chief of the Provo Police Department, Richard Ferguson, described him as intelligent, honorable, hardworking, and one of his all-stars. Chief Ferguson described him as the officer you would like to show up at your door in your crucible moment. He was born in Boston and graduated high school in Springfield. He grew up in a home that valued and respected public service, with his siblings serving as policemen and his father, a retired fire captain. During his 3 years of service at the Provo Police Department, he worked mostly in Provo's thriving downtown and on the SWAT team. He also served on the bicycle patrol and as a field training officer. Most importantly, he was a good man, husband, and father. One of his fellow officers remembered that there was a time that he arrested someone and gave them a hug just as he was arrested to offer them comfort. That was the type of cop he was. My wife, Sue, and I offer our deepest sympathy to Provo PD, the family and friends of Joe, and hope that they know we will never forget their sacrifice--especially to Kaylyn and Logan. Our brave policemen and -women face serious potential danger every time they say good-bye to their families and leave their homes to go on patrol, and they know that it is possibly the last time they see them and it could be their final good-bye. I take this moment to express my sincere appreciation to all of our Nation's first responders and police officers, but today, especially, to those of Provo City. We love you, respect you, and thank you.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the life and service of Corporal David Hyrum Hiatt. David has lived in Provo, Utah for several years and has longstanding ties to the original pioneer settlers in Utah. He enlisted in June 1955 after graduating from Brigham Young University. He was assigned to Fort Ord in Monterey, California and was discharged on July 21, 1960. During his time in the military, Fort Ord was used as a staging location for the Korean War and other military activities in Japan, and South Pacific locations. David was an outstanding example to his family, community, and country. As we mourn the passing of David, we honor the sacrifice of all who have served, and those who continue to serve, in our Armed Forces. I am grateful for the many generations of men and women who have served our country and sacrificed more than we can imagine. We should all live our lives in a way that is worthy of their service. May God bless the Hiatt Family and others who grieve, and may God bless America.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have closely followed the recent developments in the war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This is one of the world's deadliest wars. Air strikes and other acts of war have killed tens of thousands of civilians. Yemen has become a wasteland, with widespread disease and famine. An estimated 85,000 children have been killed or died from malnutrition. The United Nation estimates that Yemen is now facing the specter of a famine threatening 14 million people: half of their population. Three-quarters of Yemen's population now requires urgent humanitarian assistance. The time has come for us to reconsider our support for this disastrous war and to consider the moral imperatives that form the foundation of our values, as well as our strategic interests. In this instance, I believe both our moral values and strategic interest require that we reassess our involvement in this tragic human catastrophe. We must reject war and pursue peace. The day I was sworn in as a Member of Congress, I joined the House in passing a resolution calling on all parties involved in the conflict to increase efforts to prevent civilian casualties and to increase humanitarian access. In addition, the resolution denounced the conduct of the war in Yemen that is, directly or indirectly, inconsistent with the laws of armed conflict, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and the use of civilians as human shields. It is my fear that our continued support of this war will only increase resentment of the United States and the region. It will diminish U.S. security and undermine America's moral authority and reputation as a champion of our foundational values such as human rights and civil liberties. In addition to the horrendous humanitarian costs in Yemen itself, it makes the entire region less secure and makes humanitarian disasters in the wider region more likely. But more importantly, what is happening in Yemen is just simply wrong. It is out of harmony with America's values. Ironically, the very reason we want to support a strong ally in Saudi Arabia is to prevent this type of situation, not foster it. These conditions provide a breeding ground for violent extremism and for terrorist groups to expand. Prolonging the war in Yemen only strengthens the Islamic state in Yemen and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. Additionally, the conflict undertaken by the Saudi-led coalition under the objective of ``eliminating Iranian influence'' has achieved just the opposite. Iran has been able to use the conflict as an opportunity to establish a foothold across the Middle East. They send soldiers to prop up a dictator, Bashar al-Assad, in Syria. Additionally, Iran-supported Hezbollah is now the dominant political force in Lebanon, and able to threaten neighboring Israel, our closest ally in the region, with its growing missile and rocket arsenal. This threat to Israel is in addition to the ongoing barrage of missiles fired into Israel by Iran- supported Hamas in Gaza. I welcomed Secretary of Defense Mattis' comments in October, when he said, ``It's time to stop this.'' He urged all parties to sit down and pursue peace. Secretary of Defense Mattis' comments were followed by Secretary of State Pompeo's statement in which he said, ``The time is now for the cessation of hostilities.'' I echo Secretary of Mattis' further comments when he said, ``We have got to move toward a peace effort here, and we can't say we are going to do it sometime in the future.'' We should support the U.N.-led efforts to bring peace to this devastated country and urge the Saudi- led coalition and Houthis to start peace negotiations immediately. Ending our support for the Saudi-led coalition highlights the gross inhumanity of the war and that we do not support the way the conflict in Yemen is being conducted. It underlines our growing concerns about the behavior of Saudi Arabia as it affects larger American strategic interests in the region and our interest in preserving global humanitarian norms. Ending our support for the war will force the Saudi-led coalition to reconsider its policies and will signal our support for peace negotiations as, as called for by the administration. American foreign policy requires a balance between our national security and moral values. In the case of the war in Yemen, these competing imperatives are not in conflict. Ending U.S. support for the war in Yemen supports both American strategic interests and humanitarian values.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, in Utah, wildfires are disastrous events that don't just cause property damage. They can substantially disrupt the lives of families and have, unfortunately, become far too common in the West. Last month, Mayor Ellis of Elk Ridge reached out to me with a remarkable story from his community. In September, the Bald Mountain fire threatened Elk Ridge, nearly claiming countless homes. However, instead of burning into the sea, the fire suddenly halted, stayed behind the mountain, and spared the community. Mayor Ellis told me that after this remarkable event, many locals began to refer to the peak as ``Miracle Mountain.'' He then asked if we could commemorate this event by naming the mountain, and I happily took up the task. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to sponsor legislation, the Miracle Mountain Designation Act, supported by the entire Utah House delegation and Governor Herbert to name this mountain ``Miracle Mountain.'' Mr. Speaker, I hope this bill, once passed, will memorialize an event of great significance in this community.