John Curtis

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize Veterans Day this week, I would like to pay tribute to the life and sacrifice of Major Brent Taylor. Major Taylor and I had the great privilege of serving together as mayors of each of our hometowns in Utah. Brent first enlisted after the terrorist attacks on September 11 and quickly became a major in the National Guard. He served in Afghanistan and twice in Iraq before returning to Afghanistan for what would become his fourth and final tour. On November 3, Major Taylor was tragically killed in an insider attack by one of those he was trying to help. As our communities, State, and Nation mourn this tragic loss, his dear wife, Jennie, reminded us why so many choose to serve this great country. In her words: The price of freedom surely feels incredibly high to all those of us who know and love our individual soldier. But the value of freedom is immeasurable to all who know and love America, and all that she represents. Let us never forget those who have given their lives, their families, and their futures for our precious freedoms. May God bless the Taylor family and others who grieve, and may God bless America.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as thousands of Utahans in my district are returning to their homes after being evacuated due to wildfires that came within blocks of their homes. The Pole Creek fire and the Bald Mountain fire have engulfed over 100,000 acres of land and are still burning strong. It is a testament to our brave firefighters and our incredible community of volunteers that not a single life has been lost and property has been protected. Although this fire season has been one of the worst our State has ever seen, it has brought out the best in Utah. During the height of the Pole Creek and Bald Mountain fires, the Red Cross was overwhelmed. Now, Mr. Speaker, you might assume that that being overwhelmed came because of the 6,000 evacuees who needed a home. But, in reality, the Red Cross was overwhelmed because the list of people coming into the shelter offering homes was longer than the list of people needing homes. The Red Cross had to close shop. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I visited the Red Cross shelter and found a sign on the door that said, ``Please, no more donations.'' They had too many donations from Utahans. This is not the first time the Red Cross has had to close shop early. The people of Utah go out of their way to help others. As usual, Utah stepped up in the face of tragedy, and I plan to work to prevent future catastrophic events like this. Before I came to Congress, I was mayor for 8 years. I understand how overwhelming it can be to coordinate disaster response, recovery, and manage the daily operations of a community. In my district, many small towns and cities are overcome with challenges as they work out confusing jurisdictional responsibilities of the State and Federal Government, on top of actively rebuilding and preparing for the aftermath of the wildfires. To help in this effort, last week, I convened a group of mayors, county commissioners, State representatives, and emergency personnel so that local leaders could have direct access to the Federal Government, share resources, and prepare for what comes next. I stand committed to helping our communities obtain the resources they need to rebuild their homes, businesses, and prevent further damage. We can all agree that managing our forest is critical. While we won't prevent every fire, we need forest management reforms to reduce the risk of fires. I have already started this discussion with my colleagues in Washington. Last week, I spoke with the interim Chief of the Forest Service, and today I met with Secretary Perdue, who oversees the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which includes the Forest Service. Both of these conversations focused on how to best manage our forests and prevent similar fires from happening in the future. As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, I look forward to advancing policies that protect lives and protect property throughout Utah. As we look ahead to preventing these catastrophic wildfires, let's not forget the value of our local officials and their roles in forest management decisions. They know better than anyone the challenges they face in their own backyards. Should another fire strike, I am confident that Utahans will once again step up to the challenge and take care of our great State and the wonderful people in it.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate our friend, Taiwan, as it commemorates the 107th anniversary of its National Day on October 10th. The 23.5 million people on the island represent the only democracy in the Chinese speaking world. Taiwan has come to represent many of the same principles we hold dear. With its sixth successful direct presidential election in 2016, Taiwan continues to serve as a proud example of democratic success in the Asia-Pacific region. Taiwan has been a reliable partner in East Asia. U.S. trade in goods with Taiwan reached $68 billion last year, making Taiwan the United States' 11th largest trading partner. More specifically, Taiwan is Utah's 6th largest trading partner and last year received $636 million in exports from Utah. On Taiwan's National Day, we reaffirm the strength of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and the United States commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act. Many years ago, I lived in Taiwan where I was able to learn its customs, culture, history, and language. I developed a great personal appreciation for its people and their way of life. It is an honor and privilege to support our friend and partner, Taiwan, and highlight the bonds that connect us.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman and ranking member for supporting the Small Business Access to Capital and Efficiency Act, or Small Business ACE Act. I am also grateful to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans) for joining as a cosponsor and for my colleagues on the Small Business Committee for advancing this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, the Small Business ACE Act is critical to reducing burdensome red tape and regulations that fall so disproportionately on small business. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy across the country and certainly in my home State of Utah where they make up over 99 percent of all Utah businesses and contribute two- thirds of all job growth. Without a doubt, the strength of our economy depends on these small businesses. Although the economy continues to improve, small businesses and entrepreneurs often face challenges accessing capital. To assist creditworthy innovators, the Small Business Administration offers numerous lending programs, including the 504 loan program. Without using a single taxpayer dollar, the program has helped many well-known businesses throughout the United States and Utah. In the past 20 years, the 504 program has supported over 4,500 entrepreneurs and nearly 64,000 jobs in Utah alone. However, despite the program's positive status, Federal red tape and conflicting regulations have hampered its development, weighing it down with roadblocks and uncertainty. As a result, many small businesses still have difficulty accessing capital. The Small Business ACE Act will help fix this by eliminating Federal regulations burdening the program and harmonizing conflicting real estate appraisal thresholds that have prevented eligible small businesses from accessing capital. I am pleased that my bill has broad support from important stakeholders, like the National Association of Development Companies, Mountain West Small Business Finance, and Utah Certified Development Company, that know better than anyone just how essential the 504 small business lending program is and how critical it is that we improve it. By reducing burdens on small businesses, we help ensure not only their individual success, but the success for our Nation's economy. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to put forth this commonsense legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased the House is considering my bill today, H.R. 4824, the Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2018. I want to express my appreciation to Senator Orrin Hatch, who introduced the bill in the Senate, as well Chairman Rob Bishop for moving the bill through the Natural Resources Committee. I would also like to thank various stakeholders that have taken part in the process creating this bill. Additionally, I would like to thank the 12 Members who joined me on this important bill as cosponsors, including my good friend from Montana (Mr. Gianforte). The need to give greater access to high-speed broadband services for rural communities is broadly supported, evidenced by the diverse coalition of stakeholders supporting my commonsense legislation, including NTCA, WTA, the American Library Association, the Utah Education and Telehealth Network, the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, the Utah Rural Broadband Association, and the Navajo Nation, to name just a few. The purpose of my bill is simple: We need to do a better job connecting our rural and remote communities with greater access to broadband and high-speed internet. I believe that increasing access to broadband services in rural areas, like many places in my home State of Utah, is an important first step to help bridge the digital divide and to provide an enhanced quality of life for these areas. This infrastructure is critical to ensure schools, hospitals, libraries, and small businesses have access to modern-day internet speeds. This legislation will provide economic development opportunities for small businesses and residents in our rural towns. Currently, the permitting process for a broadband project across Federal lands can take many years, in some cases, as much as 8 or 9 years. In my view, this is completely unacceptable. My bill improves and speeds up the permitting process on Federal lands, while also safeguarding and enforcing current-day Federal environmental laws. I have visited three different Native American Tribes since my election to Congress and have learned some of the unique problems facing these communities. I was proud to work with several Native American Tribes, including the Navajo Nation in my district, to ensure Tribal governments can utilize these new programs established within my bill. I was touched by a letter of support I received this week from President Begaye, the president of the Navajo Nation. I have visited the Navajo Nation three times since coming to Congress, and I hope this bill passes so that, on my next visit, we can celebrate the passage of this bill together. My bill is a big win for Americans living in rural communities, especially Utahns, and I encourage my House colleagues to join me in voting in support of H.R. 4824. I hope the Senate will also quickly take up this measure and send it to the President's desk.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my friend and colleague, Mr. Yoho, on the floor today with others to speak in support of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 5576, the Cyber Deterrence and Response Act. I would also like to give a special thanks to Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their support of the bill and moving it through the committee process. Mr. Speaker, more than 30 nations are currently developing offensive cyber attack capabilities. Earlier this year, the Director of National Intelligence testified before Congress that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea posed the greatest cyber threats to the United States. He continued and said work to use cyber operations to achieve strategic objectives will continue ``unless they face clear repercussions for their cyber operations.'' This bill puts in place those clear repercussions for nations that have and seek to continue to use cyber attacks against the U.S. Specifically, the legislation authorizes the President, acting through the Secretary of State, to designate, where appropriate, foreign persons or agencies as critical cyber threats. The bill also authorizes both travel and financial sanctions of individuals and agencies designated as critical cyber threats, and the legislation requires Congress to be briefed periodically on state- sponsored cyber activities against the United States. This bill will help us better protect America's critical infrastructure, national security, healthcare, energy, financial, transportation, and communication systems from hostile state-sponsored cyber attacks. Additionally, the legislation is important to help us better protect American companies and manufacturers from hackers and cyber intruders. And maybe most importantly, H.R. 5576 will provide more tools for the U.S. to deter state-sponsored efforts to attack our democratic institutions and electoral systems. I urge my colleagues to support me in voting in support of the Cyber Deterrence and Response Act of 2018.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Samuel Elzinga, Damon Ashcraft, and Andrew Jensen, members of the Utah International Mountain Forum, a coalition of student clubs at Utah Valley University, on their recent success at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on July 19, 2018 in New York. During general debates at that global forum, they highlighted the importance of advocating for mountain communities, who are among the most impoverished and forgotten communities globally. They demonstrated student engaged learning, one of UVU's core philosophies, by planning every aspect of the trip, while Dr. Baktybek Abdrisaev, a UVU faculty member, served them as a mentor to guide them through their endeavors. Through this engaged learning model, Samuel, Andrew, and Damon engaged also such non-governmental organization registered with the ECOSOC as the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, the Mountain Institute, and Utah China Friendship Improvement Sharing Hands Development and Cooperation. As a result, those NGOs provided them an opportunity to make an oral and written statement, highlighting the state of Utah as a model for sustainable mountain development. Utah is consistently ranked as one of the best states for doing business and has some of the fastest growing communities in the country. I am very proud they highlighted how students are able and have to be counted as contributors to sustainable development both in Utah and mountain communities worldwide. Below is their oral statement, which was presented during ECOSOC's general debate on July 19, 2018: Mountain Targets Implementations Through Student Engaged Learning We thank the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences for allowing us to speak in support of mountain communities, who are among the poorest and most-neglected globally. Climate change and migration make their living conditions even worse. According to a recent study by the FAO-UN and the Mountain Partnership (MP) Secretariat, an estimated 39 percent of the mountain population in developing countries are vulnerable to food insecurity. From 2000 to 2012, there was a 30-percent increase in the number of mountain people vulnerable to food insecurity, with their population only increasing by 16 percent. Two SDGs under the review of this forum contain three mountain targets and it must address the challenges facing mountain communities: Target 6.6: by 2020, protect and restore water related ecosystems, including mountains, . . .; Target 15.1: by 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular . . . mountains and drylands. . . .; Target 15.4: by 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development. Since 2007, Utah Valley University, with the support of the Mountain Partnership, involves students, including nontraditional ones, in the implementation of mountain targets. Members of the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of student clubs at UVU, gain professional skills through an engaged learning model by addressing real-world problems of mountain communities with a faculty serving them as a mentor. UIMF members have already advocated for the mountain women during the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Students, jointly with their Kyrgyz peers, reported about hosting the International Women of the Mountains conferences as an implementation of the UN Resolution ``International Year of Mountains, 2002.'' The 2016 UN Secretary-General's Report on Sustainable Mountain Development featured recommendations provided by UIMF in the latest conference document about the role women play in implementation of two mountain targets. Through the model students raised and contributed $250,000 to the mountain targets adoption and implementation. The model demonstrates that students are able and must play an active role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It can be used by universities in rural and mountainous states worldwide to provide similar benefits to students, and to transform mountain communities towards sustainable and resilient societies.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to honor Liberty Safes for being chosen to attend the Made in America Showcase this year. Liberty Safes is the largest seller of full-size residential safes in the U.S. and manufactures over 120,000 safes a year. Headquartered in Payson, Utah, Liberty Safes is an important component of Utah's economy--employing nearly 400 Utahns and utilizing Utah steel suppliers and other local companies. In fact, 90 percent of the materials that Liberty Safes uses for its products originate in the U.S. As the number one seller of full-size safes in the country, Liberty Safes demonstrate that products made in the U.S. with American materials can be the best in the world. Liberty Safes was chosen to represent Utah at this year's Made in America Product Showcase at the White House. The showcase will feature a company from each state that produces exceptionally made American products. Liberty Safes will have the opportunity to showcase their technologically advanced and innovative products to President Trump and prominent business leaders at the event. Having been closely involved in small business and local manufacturing myself, I applaud the success of Liberty Safes and its commitment to manufacturing its products in the U.S. with American materials. American-based companies and manufacturers remain an integral part of our economy and a primary driver of prosperity for all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Liberty Safes for being selected to represent Utah at the Made in America Product Showcase.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to show my appreciation for the wildland firefighters who are working to protect communities and, most importantly, lives throughout Utah. Many of these firefighters are the same men and women who risk their lives to protect our homes and businesses every day in our towns and communities across Utah. This fire season has been one of the worst in recent memory, including six active fires that have consumed over 85,000 acres of land. The Dollar Ridge Fire, located in Duchesne and Wasatch Counties, has consumed over 50,000 acres alone. I drove by this fire last week and saw the devastation firsthand, unable to fully imagine the heartbreak families experience as they watch the fire approach their homes and their livelihoods. While combating these dangerous situations, wildland firefighters put themselves in harm's way to keep others safe. They work in extreme heat and unpleasant conditions to protect our communities. I will continue to support strong funding for the fire suppression-related activities that these firefighters rely on. Today, it is important that they receive the recognition that they undoubtedly deserve. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking the wildland firefighters of Utah for their continued bravery in keeping Utahns safe. Helping Small Businesses

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the Small Business Access to Capital and Efficiency Act, also known as Small Business ACE Act. As a member of the Small Business Committee and a former small business owner myself, I am proud to introduce a bill that will help reduce burdensome and conflicting regulations that are keeping small businesses from growth and access to capital. The Small Business Administration's 504 loan program helps small business owners grow their company and stimulate job creation, at no expense to taxpayers. Many favorite businesses like Magleby's Restaurant, Market Street Grill, Chobani Yogurt, FatBoys Ice Cream, and so many more, have expanded operations and hired new employees because of the SBA loan program. I love hearing the success stories of businesses like Premier Building Supply located in Lindon, Utah, a company that started in a garage back in 2009. Since then, Premier has quickly become a leader in supplying the Utah building industry and, with the help of an SBA 504 loan, has now grown into a 50,000-square foot facility with 150 employees. This is just one example of the many small businesses in Utah that have great potential for tremendous success if they have access to capital. However, as we see far too often, the Federal Government has maintained burdensome and conflicting regulations that weigh down the 504 program with uncertainty, and ultimately hurt the very businesses it was meant to help. The Small Business ACE Act will eliminate and harmonize conflicting Federal regulations burdening the program to ensure small businesses more efficiently have access to capital without costing the taxpayer a single dollar. I am grateful to have the support of Chairman Chabot and stakeholders like NADCO, Mountain West Small Business Finance, and Utah CDC, who know better than anyone just how critical the 504 program is. I am squarely on the side of helping small businesses and am committed to keeping the Federal Government from getting in the way of their success. I believe the Small Business ACE Act is a great step in the right direction, and I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense bill.

Mr. CURTIS

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

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to improve research and public awareness of opioid use during pregnancy. I introduced the POPPY Study Act earlier this year to address this issue, and I am pleased that it is being considered here today in this form. We all know the opioid epidemic has widespread and devastating effects. Nearly all of us know someone who has been affected by the crisis, and many of us have grieved through the heartbreak of losing loved ones to addiction. Sadly, the impact this has had on Utah has been overwhelming. In my State, six Utahns die every week as a result of the opioid overdose, and we rank among the highest in the Nation for drug overdose deaths. Areas of my district have some of the highest rates of opioid prescriptions dispensed nationwide. Tragically, Utah also leads out in prescribing the most opioids to pregnant women. Across the Nation, 1 in 5 women receive an opioid prescription during pregnancy but, in Utah, that number is doubled. Of course, opioid use during pregnancy can have dramatic consequences for a mother and her unborn child. Neonatal abstinence syndrome presents itself as babies go through withdrawal, constant screaming, shaking, vomiting, and difficulty sleeping and eating. This condition often requires long and expensive hospitalization. For Medicaid-covered babies, this syndrome costs more than $460 million in 2014 alone. Tragically, from 2004 to 2014, the rate of infants diagnosed with opioid withdrawal symptoms increased more than 400 percent nationwide. Across the Nation, women have been disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic, and little is known about the effect this has had on pregnant women. Healthcare experts, providers, and patients agree there is simply too much we don't know about why pregnant women are being prescribed opioids and what possible alternatives might provide better healthcare outcomes for mothers and their unborn children. My amendment calls for increased research on current opioid prescribing practices during pregnancy, more data on prescription opioid misuse during pregnancy, and evaluates and encourages nonopioid pain management therapies that are safe and effective during pregnancy. I am proud of the work we have done here to curb the opioid epidemic, and I applaud the chairman, ranking member, and members of the committee for the work they have done to fight this crisis. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this vital amendment as well as the underlying bill that will help us better serve our suffering communities, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana and the chairman for their speaking out in support of this important bill. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is essential in helping us improve our understanding of the impact of using opioid prescription during pregnancy and, ultimately, preventing opioid use disorder entirely. It is vital that we have sound and accurate research to guide us in the best ways to help pregnant women suffering from addiction. Mr. Chairman, this is a critical amendment. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to first of all express my appreciation to my colleague from Arizona for his good words and his acknowledgment of the economy in Utah. Shortly after I had been elected, one of my very first votes cast in this Chamber was for tax reform. Since being signed into law, the positive impact tax reform has had on our economy has been absolutely astonishing. Not only has tax reform proven to be a tremendous success across America, it has proven particularly effective in my home State of Utah. To simply say the U.S. economy is doing well would be a gross understatement. As a member of the Small Business Committee, I believe that small businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy, and, certainly, they are in my district. That is why I have been pleased to see that the small business optimism index has reached its second highest level in the survey's 45-year history. Consumer confidence is the highest we have seen in decades, and the unemployment rate in the United States is currently under 4 percent, and in my home State it is nearly 3 percent. In fact, for the first time since the Bureau of Labor Statistics has been keeping track, the number of available jobs now exceeds the number of unemployed U.S. workers. Not only is the unemployment rate historically low, but 90 percent of American workers also have had higher take-home pay now as a direct result of tax reform. In Utah, we are seeing companies of all sizes investing in their employees by giving pay bonuses and raises. A few high-profile examples include the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, rewarding 10,000 employees with thousands of dollars in pay and bonuses. Zions Bank gave pay raises to 40 percent of its employees and thousands in bonuses to nearly 80 percent of its employees, and SkyWest Airlines increased bonuses and 401(k) contributions for their employees. These are only a few small examples of the many companies passing on benefits of tax reform to hardworking Utahns. Tax reform is not only helping to put more money in hardworking Utahns' paychecks, but also lowering utility rates as well. Dominion Energy in Utah and the Division of Public Utilities is passing on $17 million in tax savings to its customers by lowering energy rates. Chris Parker, the division director of Utah Division of Public Utilities said: ``Ever since Federal tax reform legislation was passed, our division has been working closely with the Public Service Commission and utilities to determine the best method to pass on tax savings to Utah customers. Consumers should begin seeing lower gas bills soon.'' Madam Speaker, in the past few months, I have held over 50 townhall meetings and met with thousands of Utahns. They consistently express their appreciation for Congress' passing tax reform. They recognize that this historic effort is producing real results for hardworking Utah families. Simply put, Utahns are keeping more of their hard-earned money and are making more money as a direct result of tax reform, and the U.S. economy, for businesses, large and small, is roaring.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of increased funding for the Moab UMTRA project in the underlying legislation. This bill would fund the site cleanup at $42 million, an increase of approximately $4 million over last year's funding. Located just across the street from Arches National Park, the Energy Department is currently undertaking the largest uranium mill tailing pile relocation in the United States. Once the cleanup is complete, this valuable real estate can be used for a wide variety of economic and other uses in the area. I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Simpson on this issue as well as his support of other programs that are important to the West within his subcommittee. I urge my colleagues to support funding for the Moab UMTRA project as well as the underlying legislation.

Mr. CURTIS. I would like to thank Chairman Simpson for his support of the Moab UMTRA cleanup. I look forward to continuing to work on this issue as well as other issues that can benefit our constituents and the American people. Again, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to honor Audrey Kent and her son Mike Kent for their sacrifices on behalf of our nation. Audrey Kent served as an army nurse for three years in San Francisco during the height of World War II. Working in an operating room, Audrey helped injured soldiers from the Pacific recover before being transferred home. In this capacity, Audrey alleviated the suffering of soldiers exposed to the horrors and carnage of war. Mike Kent also heeded the call of duty and served in the Vietnam War. As a door gunner on a helicopter, Mike held an especially dangerous position that was often the focus of enemy fire. For eleven rigorous months, Mike inserted troops into the field, resupplied them, and conducted reconnaissance, besides other duties. Doug Kent, Mike's brother and Audrey's son, also served during the Vietnam War repairing helicopters. Tragically, Doug was killed in a helicopter accident on the same day that Mike arrived in Vietnam. Doug's name is now inscribed upon the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with the names of other fallen heroes. Until now, neither Audrey nor Mike have had the opportunity to view Doug's name in person. Thanks to the generosity of the Utah Honor Flight program, both veterans will now have that opportunity. As Audrey and Mike look forward to paying their respects to Doug, I honor them for their dedication to freedom and our country. The good that both have accomplished during their military service and throughout their civilian lives is immeasurable. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the service of Audrey and Mike to their country.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to honor Centennial Middle School's MATHCOUNTS team, which won the Utah State MATHCOUNTS contest this year and sent multiple students to represent Utah at the 2018 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition, where they placed in the top ten. The MATHCOUNTS Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps middle school students nurture and enhance their abilities in mathematics. The foundation was created in 1983 and has since helped countless middle school students overcome their fear of and develop a love for mathematics. The MATHCOUNTS Foundation hosts the annual Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition, which brings in Mathletes from all 50 States to compete. These Mathletes compete head-to-head with other teams to solve difficult math problems in timed exams. Since the competition was first held in 1984, it has grown to become the most prestigious middle school mathematics competition in the nation. Centennial Middle School, located in Provo, Utah, has participated in the MATHCOUNTS program for many years. To prepare for the statewide competition in March, participating students spent many afterschool hours training, practicing, and expanding their mathematics skills. The Centennial Middle School MATHCOUNTS team won the Utah statewide competition and had the honor of sending multiple students and their coach to represent Utah at the national contest. The Utah team placed ninth in the nation, making it the first time Utah has placed in the top ten and also took home the award for most improved team. These prestigious and hard-earned awards demonstrate the significant efforts of parents, teachers, and the team's coach, Ryan Camacho, in cultivating a love of mathematics among students at Centennial Middle School. Centennial Middle School's accomplishments indicate a promising future for mathematics achievement in Utah. As students in Utah and across the country continue to participate in competitions like MATHCOUNTS, they will be better prepared to succeed in emerging careers in mathematics. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating this outstanding accomplishment.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, this week, I had the privilege to speak to the parents of Special Forces Soldier Aaron Butler from Monticello, Utah. From the time Aaron was in the first grade, he wanted to join the military and serve our country. After a legendary career as a four-time State wrestling champion at Monticello High School, Aaron joined the Utah National Guard. Within a few years, he was one of just four soldiers who graduated with honors from the Army Green Beret Special Qualification Course. Throughout his service, Aaron's teammates and superior officers regarded him as a natural leader with an unmatched work ethic. He was tough and dedicated. He loved our country, and he took his responsibility to protect it seriously. On August 16, 2017, Aaron was serving as a staff sergeant in Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group of the Utah National Guard on his first combat deployment that should have ended in October. Tragically, an explosion occurred while he was clearing a booby- trapped building in Afghanistan, killing Aaron and injuring 11 teammates. His family, seven siblings, parents, and fiancee, as well as his teammates, were devastated. His hometown and the rest of our State mourned this tragic loss. His sister said that if Aaron had given his own eulogy, he would have said: I came. I lived. I killed bad guys. I died. Aaron and his courageous sacrifice will never be forgotten. Our country is forever indebted to the service of Aaron and countless others who make daily sacrifices to protect our country and keep us safe. And our country is, likewise, forever indebted to the families that have supported them. Like many others, I have been blessed by the dedicated military service of a family member. My father served in the Navy during World War II. I was reminded of his great service during a recent visit to the U.S. Naval Academy, where I had the honor to meet with a group of Utah cadets, and again during a visit with U.S. troops stationed in Poland and Abu Dhabi. This weekend, we will celebrate Memorial Day and take the opportunity to express our deepest and most profound gratitude to those who have fallen in the service of our country. I thank them, their families, and all those who are willing to serve. Our way of life and every ideal we hold dear has been built on the sacrifice of these heroes. This week, I am proud to speak in support of the proposals in the National Defense Authorization Act that will provide our troops with support to increase capability and capacity in a force that has been asked to do too much with too little for too long. In this, I am pleased to support a well-deserved pay raise for our troops and extend special pay and bonuses to servicemembers in high- demand fields, something our servicemembers and their families have more than earned. After heroically serving this country, our veterans deserve the very best that we can give them back home. This week, I was honored to support more than a dozen veterans bills that passed the House. These proposals will help improve the lives and honor the men and women who have served so selflessly. This legislation will help provide for disabled veterans who have been wounded in service. It will ensure our veterans have access to the care and resources they have earned. It will keep our homeless veterans off the street. It will ease educational burdens placed on our veterans by the Federal Government. It will protect our veterans from the dangers of opioid abuse. It will increase accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs to guarantee those brave individuals and their families receive the quality of service they deserve. This Memorial Day, we honor the dedicated generations of men and women who have fought for our country and ensured our freedom. May we all strive every day to live worthy of their sacrifice, and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to honor the YMCA of Northern Utah, as it celebrates its 125th anniversary. One hundred and twenty-five years ago, the YMCA opened its doors in Salt Lake City, Utah. Since then, the YMCA. has been vital in building strong kids, families, and communities. Whether it be homework support or summer camping, the Y's impact on Northern Utah has been invaluable. The afterschool programs that the YMCA provides are priceless to its communities. The Y provides 28 afterschool programs sites across Utah, which serve over 1,350 youth. These programs help ensure that kids have a safe, instructive, and enjoyable place to go after school. This not only gives parents peace of mind about their children's safety, but also instills core values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility in the participants of the programs. The YMCA offers many programs that celebrate the beautiful outdoor landscapes in Utah. Utah is widely known as one of the most beautiful places to live and offers a wide variety of outdoor adventures. However, various factors can prevent our children from experiencing the beauty that our state has to offer. The Y has gone to great lengths to ensure that all children can have the opportunity to appreciate the outdoors through overnight camps, day camps, and even recess camps. In these summer programs spread throughout the state, children can meet new friends, learn new skills, connect with nature, and have fun. On top of everything else, the YMCA also provides a ``wide range of programs for adults. Courses are available for individuals learning to speak English, improve financial literacy and money management, prevent Type 2 Diabetes, and enhance fitness. These classes have been wildly successful, with some even gaining national recognition. The development of these skills has been life-changing and enriching to many across the state. In conclusion, the services at the YMCA have been integral in making Utah one of the best places to live and raise a family. One hundred and twenty-five years later, Utah is a better place to live, with stronger communities and children, because of the YMCA. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating the YMCA of Northern Utah as it celebrates its 125 anniversary.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the POPPY Study Act, which will improve research and awareness of opioid use disorder during pregnancy. The opioid epidemic is a national crisis and has hit particularly hard in Utah. Unfortunately, Utah's drug overdose rate is ranked among the highest in the Nation. Six Utahns die every week from an opioid overdose. Sadly, Utah also has the highest rate of opioid prescriptions for pregnant mothers in the country, double the national average. Women have been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic, and little is understood about the effect this has had on pregnant women. That is why I have introduced the POPPY Study Act, to improve our understanding of prescription opioid use during pregnancy, the effects that it can have on a mother and child, and how we can best help those who are pregnant and suffering from opioid use disorder. It is my hope that the POPPY Study Act will improve the care and well-being of our expecting mothers and their children.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand before you today to celebrate National Small Business Week. With 30 million small businesses in the country, and nearly 280,000 of those in Utah, I was proud to join with my colleagues on the Small Business Committee to coauthor H. Res. 840 to recognize the vital role of small businesses. It should come as no surprise that Utah is consistently ranked among the best in the Nation for innovative startups and small businesses. In fact, small businesses make up over 99 percent of Utah's business, employ one-half of all employees in the State, and are responsible for two-thirds of our job growth. After spending much of my career as a scrappy small-business owner myself, I strongly believe that small business is the heartbeat of our economy. From emerging tech companies in Silicon Slopes to mom-and-pop shops in rural Utah, I am proud to salute the overwhelming impact of these small businesses.

Mr. CURTIS

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4465) to maintain annual base funding for the Upper Colorado and San Juan fish recovery programs through fiscal year 2023, to require a report on the implementation of those programs, and for other purposes.

Mr. CURTIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.