Rodney Davis

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2754, as amended.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 2754, as amended, would designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the Tom Stagg United States Court House.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague, Mr. Carson. As members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, this isn't unusual where we come together to do important bipartisan pieces of legislation to recognize some of America's heroes. I urge passage of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2754) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the ``Tom Stagg Federal Building and United States Courthouse'', as amended.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is amazing to be able to come to this floor and learn historical facts about other congressional districts. In my district, I am lucky enough to represent part of Abraham Lincoln's old congressional district, so the history involved with Abraham Lincoln and what he meant to this country is something that our textbooks teach. We come to this House floor to learn about courageous people like Judge Thomason, who served in the executive branch as mayor of El Paso, the legislative branch in the State and here, and then served in the judicial branch. To be honored, I think it is a testament, and I, once again, want to commend my colleague, Mr. O'Rourke, for bringing this to our attention and for allowing this honor to, hopefully, be bestowed upon that courthouse. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5873) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 511 East San Antonio Avenue in El Paso, Texas, as the ``R.E. Thomason Federal Building and United States Courthouse''.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5873.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, this is another example of bipartisanship in this great institution. H.R. 5873 would designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 511 East San Antonio Avenue in El Paso, Texas, as the R.E. Thomason Federal Building and United States Courthouse. Mr. Speaker, as I notice one of my colleagues from Texas here in the Chamber, I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to agree with my colleagues and recognize our colleague from California (Mr. Valadao), for being the sponsor of this piece of legislation, which obviously enjoys bipartisan support. I am a cosponsor of this bill. According to the Justice Department, identity theft affects nearly 18 million people, costing more than $15 billion in 2014 alone. This represents roughly 7 percent of all Americans age 16 or older. In Illinois alone, in 2014, it has been recognized that the FTC saw a 65 percent increase in identity theft. Data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics also shows us that women are more likely to be victims of identity theft than men. In addition, more than 14 percent of the victims are elderly. We all know that Social Security numbers are the link to a key piece of information that criminals use to steal people's identities. So this legislation takes an important step to ensure that our Federal agencies, our government, funded by the hardworking taxpayers of this country, are not making this problem even worse. This is a commonsense step. This is a commonsense piece of legislation that many out there watching may look to us and say: Do you mean this isn't already the law? Do you mean we are still allowing agencies to send Social Security numbers? We should have known this long ago. We should have stopped this long ago. But it is commonsense colleagues like Congressman Valadao and Congressman Swalwell, those fellow cosponsors, in a bipartisan way, Republicans and Democrats, who said: You know what? Let's solve this problem that should have been solved long ago. But now, we are going to get to it because of the leadership from Congressman Valadao. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, which will have a real impact on reducing identity theft in this country. I want to commend each and every one of our colleagues who are supporting this measure.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 553, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the month of September as Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of disease-related deaths for children in the United States--43 are diagnosed with cancer every day. While many adult cancers can be diagnosed early, pediatric cancers are more difficult to detect. In 80 percent of children, the cancer will have already spread to other parts of the body by the time of diagnosis. For the children who do survive, their battle doesn't end. Ninety- five percent of childhood cancer survivors will develop chronic health conditions. Despite these facts, only 4 percent of the National Cancer Institute's funding goes toward pediatric cancer. Since 1990, only 10 drugs have been developed to treat pediatric cancer, compared to over 200 for adults. My friend, Jonny Wade, is one of the many faces of pediatric cancer. Last Christmas Eve, his year-long battle with brain cancer tragically ended, but our fight to eradicate this disease has only begun. Mr. Speaker, his parents, John and Kimberly Wade, sat in the gallery right in front of me when the President talked about his moonshot to eradicate cancer. Mr. Speaker, 4 percent is not enough. I will continue to fight to get more than 4 percent, not for Jonny, but for his wish that no other kid should have cancer.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deputy Larry Rayburn, a deputy who has served for more than seven years in the Macoupin County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Rayburn's quick and heroic actions earlier this summer literally saved a life. Early in the morning of May 27, Deputy Rayburn responded to a call at Otter Lake Campground that a young man was experiencing an asthma attack. The young man was on a camping trip and found himself without an inhaler. Deputy Rayburn, who had previously served as an emergency medical technician arrived at the scene 10 minutes after receiving the call from the young man's mother. He concluded that the asthma attack had closed off the young man's airway, and used a plastic airway device from his squad car to reopen it. The deputy's quick actions helped restore the victim's skin color and allowed him to continue breathing until the local paramedics arrived and were able to put him on a ventilator. The Macoupin County Sheriffs Department recently awarded Deputy Rayburn with their ``Lifesaving Award,'' and I stand here today to honor him for his courageous actions that morning and to thank him for his service.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jeanelle Norman, who was recently named Citizen of the Year by the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce. Jeanelle is perhaps most known for her work as the president of the Decatur branch of the NAACP, where she has spent the past few years fighting tirelessly for the inclusion and equality of all people in the greater Decatur area. However, Jeanelle is no stranger to activism. In 1998, she saw a need for leadership in her community and began her campaign as the first black woman to run for mayor of Decatur. Although unsuccessful, she was later elected as the first black president of the Decatur School Board where she saw firsthand the needs of parents and children in Decatur's public schools. Using her years of experience and advocacy on the School Board, Jeanelle channeled her desire to make a difference into the creation of the Area Leaders and Education Response Team, whose focus is to improve relations between Decatur's community members and its law enforcement. This 11-member team works to spread accurate information in the event of high-profile incidents involving police and the black community. For decades, the Decatur community has benefitted immensely from Jeanelle's positive influence. I am very proud of Jeanelle for all of her accomplishments that have earned her the distinction of Citizen of the Year. She is truly an inspiration and I congratulate her on receiving this honor.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 518, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate all of our Olympians and Paralympians who represented Team USA in Rio de Janeiro this year. The United States brought in 121 medals at the Olympic Games last month, and with the start of the Paralympics this week, I am confident that Team USA's staggering medal count will rise even higher. The Illinois 13th District sent some incredibly talented athletes to the Games this year. Nichole Millage; my friend Tatyana McFadden and her sister Hannah; Ryan Held, a gold medalist from Springfield, Illinois; Lauren Doyle and Kelsey Card; as well as wheelchair basketball coach Stephanie Wheeler were selected to represent their country on Team USA; for many, the dream of a lifetime. These individuals endured hours of rigorous training, overcame personal struggles, and sacrificed simple pleasures to represent our country on the global stage. They are the best and brightest our country has to offer, as well as some of the world's most skilled athletes. They have certainly made their hometowns proud, and it is an honor to represent them in Congress.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 18, 2016.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 3207) to authorize the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to provide playback equipment in all formats, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois for earning the American Hospital Association's 2016 McKesson Quest for Quality Prize. The Quest for Quality Prize is the top national honor for healthcare quality and safety. Each year, the American Hospital Association recognizes one hospital in the nation that has excelled in its commitment to reliable, safe, patient-centered care. Since 1970, Memorial Medical Center has been dedicated to exceptional patient care, education, and research. As a teaching hospital, Memorial Medical Center has established itself as a leader in training tomorrow's healthcare professionals, making it a deserving recipient of this year's award. Memorial Medical Center is the first hospital in Illinois to receive the Quest for Quality Prize, and I know it will continue to serve as one of our state's most prominent hospitals. I am proud of all those that have helped make Memorial Medical Center the standard for exceptional healthcare in Illinois. Congratulations on this well- deserved distinction.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his hard work in getting us to where we are today. I want to give a special thanks to Mike Pompeo, who helped craft this legislation that, over a year ago in the House, 275 Republicans and Democrats voted on a bill to establish a voluntary nationwide program that would give consumers access to the information that they have requested about the food that they are actually consuming. This bill would have protected advancements in food production and innovation and ended the patchwork of State laws threatening our interstate commerce. I was extremely disappointed to see that a small group of Members from the other body blocked this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to protect vital agricultural technology that has been proven time and time again by science to be safe. I want to ensure that Americans have access to affordable food--and this bill would have done that--and to help address our world's hunger needs that biotechnology can only do in the future. Unfortunately, this process has stalled for months. Congress was not able to act before Vermont's law went into effect on July 1. Just having one State alter the law--their law--would provide a drastic, drastic negative impact on producers in my district. Despite what you may hear today, Mr. Speaker, this is not, and never will be, a movement for people to know more about what is in their food. This is a movement by people who want you to pay more for food using practices that are elite, not readily available, and expensive to the hard-working families in this country. These activists have publicly acknowledged their objective is to stigmatize a safe and valuable tool for America's farmers and ranchers. If leaders of this movement in Vermont were so pure in their motives, they would not have exempted processed dairy foods, which excludes GMO labeling of a little ice cream company that operates in Vermont. I say, if ice cream from Illinois ought to have a label in Vermont, the environmentally conscious ice cream company from Vermont ought to follow the same rule. While I still believe the voluntary approach is the correct course of action, I am supporting this legislation. The clock has run out. My producers need certainty. An interstate commerce nightmare will shortly pursue if we don't pass this bill.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 2893) to reauthorize the sound recording and film preservation programs of the Library of Congress, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 442, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, it is truly unfortunate that I actually have to offer this amendment. You would think an Office of Congressional Affairs that was set up to specifically deal with Members of Congress, our staff, and the different committees that all of us populate would be able to respond to simple questions. I had a very eloquent speech put together, but it is getting very late out here in Washington, D.C., so I am going to condense it. The bottom line is, Mr. Chairman, over 2 years ago, I offered language in the farm bill to create a specific committee on the Science Advisory Board to deal with agriculture to make sure that somebody in a concrete building out here in Washington, D.C., was able to actually be at the table when the EPA came up with a rule to regulate milk spills like oil spills. I wish somebody would have raised their hands and said, Which one can you clean up with cats? Mr. Chairman, since the public comment deadline ended on September 8, 2015, the EPA has failed to appoint one single person. Also, over 30 questions were submitted by Republicans and Democrats from the House Agriculture Committee in February after Gina McCarthy, the Administrator of the EPA, came to testify at a hearing, and we have yet to get a single response. Time and time again, Mr. Chairman, I have asked the same questions over and over to many people at the EPA in numerous committees that I serve on, and time and time again, we get nothing. We get crickets. It is an unfortunate situation that we have to go to this extreme, but it is the only way that we can send a message to an office in an agency that is completely unresponsive to this institution and our constitutional responsibilities of oversight. It is wrong. Their lack of responsiveness is not only disrespectful, it is unconstitutional. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague. I appreciate her frustration. I hope she would advocate on behalf of not just me, but the entire House Agriculture Committee, that gets zero response. It is not just the House Ag Committee, it is our House T&I Committee. It is individual congressional offices that don't have that interaction. There is such a lack of action that I didn't take this amendment lightly. We came here to the floor tonight this late because there is a lack of respect and constitutional responsibility coming from this agency of the executive branch. Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record a letter to the EPA dated June 14, 2016. June 14, 2016. Hon. Gina McCarthy, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington,