Neal Dunn

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Andy Anderson who was called home to his Lord and Savior last month. Andy is known by many throughout the State of Florida for his political endeavors and accomplishments. Four short months ago, he and his family packed up and moved to Mexico Beach where Andy inherited the role of City Manager. I had the honor and privilege of meeting Andy while he served in this position. He took his responsibilities seriously by taking on one of the most devasted cities touched by Hurricane Michael. Andy knew the work that was cut out for him, but he was up for the challenge. Mexico Beach and Bay County instantly knew that Andy belonged there, and everyone soon realized what a great person and public servant Andy was. Prior to his service with Mexico Beach, Andy served as a City Councilman for the City of Palm Bay and as a County Commissioner for Brevard County. The entire State, along with Mexico Beach and the Anderson family, is now missing a remarkable man and our hearts go out to those lives that Andy has touched. Andy Anderson was a truly incredible individual. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the life of Mr. Andy Anderson.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today a disappointed man. I am disappointed in a broken and partisan process that has consumed House Democrats. We were told this investigation was going to be bipartisan and transparent. Instead, the proceedings were held in secret behind closed doors with no attempt at a fair hearing. All this was done deliberately in an effort to undo the results of the 2016 election. Madam Speaker, my constituents in Florida want to see us get to work. They are counting on us to actually fix the surprise medical billing, to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Instead, we are here a week before Christmas, voting to impeach the legitimate President, Donald J. Trump, on the strength of nothing but rumors. We have wasted almost a year on this process while House Democrats chose political theater over serving the American people. This shameful vote to impeach our President will be a lasting stain on our House. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. James Horace Montgomery of Lake City, Florida, who I am sad to say recently passed away at the age of 86. Mr. Montgomery, affectionately known as ``Mr. Mont,'' graduated from Columbia High School in 1951 and would later teach at several schools in Lake City, including the high school he graduated from and Florida Gateway College. He dedicated 60 years in all to educating our youth and was a role model to every student with whom he crossed paths. Mr. Montgomery also devoted much of his life to the First Presbyterian Church, singing in the choir for over 50 years. He was an Eagle Scout, served as a county commissioner for 28 years, and was on the North Florida Regional Council for 27 years. Mr. Mont will be missed by his entire community, but his legacy and the impact that he made will never be forgotten. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing and honoring the life of Mr. Montgomery.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Judge David Taunton, who passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on November 8. As the longest serving judge in Gulf County, Florida, Judge Taunton will be remembered by many for his unending dedication to children and providing them with a second chance. Judge Taunton and his wife, Abigail, dedicated their lives to opening a shelter for homeless children. In 1978, the Taunton Family Children's Home welcomed its first child, and since then, over 400 children have called the Taunton Family Children's Home their own. Abigail and the judge made sure that each child was raised as if they were their own child. Judge Taunton has impacted so many lives through his optimism, unconditional love, and mentorship. In addition to serving as a judge for 20 years, David Taunton served as a logger, a school principal, a church pastor, and an editor of his newspaper. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the legacy and life of Judge David Taunton. He will be missed by many.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sgt. Jeff Hewitt and Deputy Jared S. Hewitt of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for their courageous actions during the Eastpoint, FL fire that took place last June devastating the community and stretching over 1,000 acres. The father and son received a call over dispatch that a family was trapped in a burning vehicle, and without hesitation, the two of them hurried to the scene. Placing their lives at risk, they fought through the heavy smoke and engulfing fire to free a young boy, his parents, and their cat from the emblazoned truck. Because of their bravery and swift action, this family was safely rescued and there were no deaths as a result of the horrific fire in Eastpoint. Their heroic actions have not gone unnoticed. Sgt. Jeff Hewitt and Deputy Jared Hewitt were named as the 2019 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year at the Florida Sheriff's Association annual summer conference. As a nation, we are indebted to our first responders and law enforcement officers for their daily acts of heroism. Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking this father and son for risking their lives not only during this fire, but every day to ensure that the people of Franklin County can live safe and prosperous lives.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Cottondale High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter for winning the 2019 state championship for both Agriculture Communication and Parliamentary Procedure. Cottondale FFA Chapter members Josh Scurlock, Addison Griffin, Taylor Dumas, Lillie Livingston, Blayton See, Carl Young, Joey Jackson and their Advisor Stan Scurlock did an outstanding job preparing and practicing for this competition. Agriculture will always be vital to the sustainability of this great nation and we are fortunate to have FFA Chapters across the country that instill its importance in our youth. The Cottondale FFA members will compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana for the national title. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Cottondale FFA chapter and wishing them luck at the National FFA Convention next week.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to demand fairness and transparency from this outrageous impeachment inquiry. Democrats have been grasping at straws and looking for any excuse to impeach President Trump. We haven't even held a vote to open an impeachment inquiry, but Speaker Pelosi and Adam Schiff are charging ahead with a secretive kangaroo court behind closed doors. This is an illegitimate, unfair hearing with no due process and no charges made. Adam Schiff has refused to release to the public any of the transcripts and even refuses to let Members of Congress into the hearings to hear them. Their goal has been impeachment since the 2016 election, and they will use any means to get there. This is the only thing the House is doing, instead of focusing on the issues that are important to hardworking Americans across this Nation. I hope the American people will see this evil abuse of power for what it is--the Democrats' decision to choose partisan hatred of President Trump over the welfare of this great Nation.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches and similar community care centers for at-risk children across our Nation. Founded in 1957, the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches have been improving the lives of at-risk children throughout our State with its comprehensive programs in six Florida locations, including one in my district, Live Oak, Florida. The Sheriffs Youth Ranches are credited with helping more than 152,000 children and families in Florida alone. I have visited them, and I admire their work. It goes well beyond basic care and provides a sense of security, guidance, and belonging to these children who are coming from incredibly difficult circumstances. Without action by this House, on September 30, the title IV-E child welfare waiver will expire, adversely affecting the support provided to children's homes across the country. It is our responsibility to ensure that vital services to vulnerable children and families are not interrupted. We must guarantee that the system has the same amount of resources necessary to achieve safety and permanency for all of these children.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary man. He is from Bay County, Florida, and I am fortunate to have him as a dear friend of mine, Mr. Grover Davis. Grover was born into a fishing family in December of 1941 in Parker, Florida, and he learned the value of hard work at a young age. He built fishing boats with his father and his brothers, leading his family to own the first charter fishing boats in Panama City. When his father died, Grover dropped out of high school and worked with his brothers to support the family. They made a living in the charter fishing business, with young Grover below deck keeping the boats running. He still keeps the boats running 70 years later. He learned a lot about life at a young age. He met his wonderful wife, Judy, at Bay High School, and married her in 1961. By the 1970s, the Davis family was managing the St. Andrews Marina, and Grover became interested in a new business venture. In 1974, he began Marine Transportation Services, which provided transport services for oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Transportation Services has truly become a family affair, with his wife, Judy, and his daughters, Kim and Kerrie, joining him at the helm. Grover treats all of his employees like family. In fact, 50 percent of his employees started at Marine Transportation right out of high school and still work there to this day. He is unfailingly supportive of all of his employees. When they make a mistake, he doesn't let them go. He is famous for sitting with them and saying: ``Did you learn something from this?'' His favorite phrase is: ``There are only two kinds of captains; those who have run aground and those who are about to run aground.'' Grover truly leads by example in all aspects of his life, and he has spent much of his life giving back to the community. He is a big supporter of Camo Dreams, a nonprofit that helps disabled children go on hunting trips, and routinely supported events for the Girl Scouts when his daughters were growing up. Grover, his wife, Judy, and his daughters, have long since cemented their place in the firmament of stars that are the foundation of our community back home. He has always preached that honor is the most important value among people, and no one person is better than another. He never asks anyone to do what he would not do himself. Judy and Grover have two children, Kim and Kerrie, two grandsons, and two great grandsons. They all describe him as an amazing friend, father, and leader in our community. He is the single most social man I know. A great storyteller, he always surrounded himself with his friends, and if he stood still for more than a few minutes, it was certain that he was frying grouper or mullet for a host of people. He loves people and they love him. I have to say, Grover is also widely known as a huge and very inventive practical joker. He has been known to go to elaborate lengths to prank his friends. He is also an amazing historian, especially knowledgeable about the minutiae of World War II. All of his friends, and I count myself lucky to be among those, revere our time that we spend with him. He is always entertaining, educational, and exceptional. One of his daughters recently said to me: ``Daddy is so social and he knows so many people that he could cause a traffic jam in Calhoun County.'' That is a lot of personality. I spoke with him on the phone last week, after he received his diagnosis of a rapidly progressing terminal illness. After sharing his terminal diagnosis with me, he lightheartedly promised that, come what may, he would vote for me by absentee ballot next year. Mr. Speaker, as the curtain draws closed on the life of my friend, I ask that we cast our attention on a man who lived an extraordinary life; a man who changed my community for the better; a man who cared for and supported many, many friends and family; a man who is, quite literally, larger than life. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing my friend, who made me a better person, made my community a better place, Mr. Grover Davis. Grover, we are praying for you, my friend, and for your family.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a local hero from Jackson County, Florida. Mr. Edd Sorenson is known internationally for his courageous and skillful ability to rescue and retrieve cave divers. Just this past March, he was called upon in the Dominican Republic to retrieve two bodies that were on the brink of never being recovered due to the dangerous conditions. His most recent courageous rescue took place in Tennessee, where he was called upon, in the middle of the night, to save the life of a professional cave diver, Josh Bratchley, widely known as the man who saved the Thai soccer team last year from their cave incident. When Edd is not answering a call for the next cave rescue, you will find him managing his cave diving business in Marianna, Florida, where he is a cave dive instructor. Edd is a truly remarkable individual. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. Edd Sorenson for his heroic and selfless actions that have saved the lives of many and brought closure to families that, otherwise, would never have been possible.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of the late Harry K. Weaver of Live Oak, Florida. From a very young age, Mr. Weaver had an unwavering desire to serve others and make the world a better place. Mr. Weaver was born in 1929 in Bristol, Florida. Shortly after earning his degree at Florida State University, he enlisted in the United States Army. Following years of service to our country, he returned to Florida, where he would dedicate more than 33 years of his life first as the administrator, then the president of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, a program that has served over 150,000 children. Harry was also a founding member of the National Association of Homes for Children, where he served as its first president. His legacy will live on in Suwannee County, and the impact that he has made on the youth has left a lasting impression. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the life and legacy of Mr. Harry Weaver.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant General Robert Scott Williams as he retires after 32 years of service to the United States Air Force. On June 20, General Williams completed his tour as dual commander of Air Forces Northern and First Air Force headquarters at Tyndall Air Force Base, capping a long and distinguished career. His service to the Air Force included a tour as commander of the 169th Operations Group and Fighter Wing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in South Carolina. General Williams' leadership during and after Hurricane Michael was top tier. He and his team at Tyndall Air Force Base overcame numerous obstacles and exceeded expectations by opening First Air Force headquarters way ahead of schedule. This is only 2 short months after the category 5 storm Michael devastated the panhandle. Madam Speaker, I applaud the work he has accomplished over his last 3 years of command and his 32-year career. Please join me in saluting Lieutenant General Robert Scott Williams for his great service to the Air Force.

Mr. DUNN

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

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims. Sergeant Sims made the ultimate sacrifice for our country during the Vietnam war. Sergeant Sims was born in Port St. Joe, Florida, and orphaned at a young age. He was adopted at age 13 by James and Irene Sims. He met his wife, Mary, and joined the Army after high school. On February 21, 1968, while behind enemy lines during the Battle of Hue in the Republic of Vietnam, Sims threw himself on a grenade in defense of his squad. Sergeant Sims made the ultimate sacrifice to protect his comrades in arms, all while fighting in the name of liberty. Sergeant Sims was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. This week, Bay County officially named June 18 Staff Sergeant Clifford Chester Sims Day. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring Sergeant Clifford Sims and all our fallen heroes who gave that last full measure of devotion to our Nation.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2157, which will finally provide desperately needed long-term recovery resources to the communities that I represent. Until today, my constituents have waited for 7 months with no certainty that help would ever come. This is particularly true for North Florida agricultural producers and most critical for the foresters. Hurricane Michael left millions of acres of forestland in ruin--causing catastrophic damage and resulting in billions of dollars in losses. My support for this bill was partly due to my understanding that money appropriated under Title 1 will give the Secretary of Agriculture the flexibility necessary to compensate timber producers for losses or to issue block grants allowing a state to do so when appropriate. I look forward to working with Secretary Perdue throughout the implementation of this bill to ensure it can best help all struggling panhandle agriculture producers.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, today, this Congress will finally finish its work on a disaster supplemental. For my district, this bill comes almost 8 months after Hurricane Michael destroyed 12 counties in Florida. For 8 months, I have hammered this Congress about the devastation and desperate needs in my communities. Month after month, one political excuse after another has been used to delay the emergency disaster supplemental, which had always been prompt and never been politicized. But not this time. This time, my neighbors, my communities, and my friends were left to wonder why Washington doesn't care about them. Whatever became of Americans helping Americans? To my colleagues who have unnecessarily delayed this bill, and who may even today vote against it, I ask why. Some colleagues will say their principles required a recorded vote, even though the content of this bill has been known for months and debated for months. In fact, we had a chance to vote on the amendments to it just 2 weeks ago. For those upset at the cost, okay, spending in Washington is a problem. But are they willing to make an empty gesture about balancing the Federal budget on the backs of Americans who have lost everything? Are they willing to force the airmen at Tyndall and the marines at Camp Lejeune to halt work to repair their bases because they ran out of money over a month ago? How about the foresters in the timber industry who grow a commodity not covered by Federal crop insurance or any other program? Are they willing to bankrupt them? A ``no'' vote today does exactly that. I would like to close with a simple thought for those who would think about voting ``no'' on this bill: There but for the grace of God go I. If this happened in their districts, would they be willing and prepared to vote against their neighbors in the face of a disaster that literally destroyed their homes and businesses? Would they look them in the eye and vote ``no''? I rather doubt it.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I regretfully missed votes on 5/8. I was forced to return to my district with the President who was surveying damage from Hurricane Michael. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 187, and YEA on Roll Call No. 188

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DUNN. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, my amendment increases military construction funding in the bill for the Air Force and the United States Marine Corps. Last year, Hurricanes Florence and Michael destroyed two of our Nation's premier combat and training bases. Camp Lejeune in North Carolina sustained $3.6 billion in damages due to Hurricane Florence. Lejeune is critical to our Nation's defenses not only for the Marine Corps, but it is also home to a major Navy command and a Coast Guard command. The base's unique access to two deepwater ports allows for rapid seaborne deployments. It also has vast amounts of land and deep training resources. This is what makes Camp Lejeune the home of ``Expeditionary Forces in Readiness.'' Tyndall Air Force Base, in my district in Florida, took a direct hit from a Category 5 storm, Hurricane Michael. Tyndall is home to the largest F-22 base in the world. It is one of only two Air Force bases that has immediate access to the Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range, a range that is like no other in the world. Our airmen are able to train and test on the next generation of supersonic and hypersonic aircraft and weapons systems in a live-fire environment. A few months ago, President Trump came, and he ordered the Air Force to make Tyndall a fifth-generation Air Force base outfitted with three squadrons of F-35s and a squadron of MQ-9s. This rebuild will cost $2.7 billion in military construction alone, and it will make Tyndall the base of the future. My amendment will raise MILCON funding in fiscal year 2019 up to $500 million for the Marine Corps and up to $1 billion for the Air Force. This is only a downpayment to help these services continue on their rebuilds. This funding is crucial for our military. Our Nation's defense is in crisis, and our readiness will continue to deteriorate if we do not provide the necessary funds to our armed services immediately. I would like to make a couple of other points that sometimes seem to get lost in our discussions. The Federal Government knows that it self-insures the military. From the moment the storms occurred, it was 100 percent certain that we were going to need a disaster supplemental. By law, the funds cannot come from FEMA, and they cannot come from HUD. They must be directly appropriated by this Congress. Hurricane Michael was a unique storm. It was more like a tornado than a hurricane, but it was a tornado that was 80 miles wide and 120 miles deep. In my district, we have 3 million acres of land that is crushed. By way of comparison, in 2017, three hurricanes affected Florida: Hermine, Maria, and Irma. Fifty counties were affected. Just the county that Tyndall Air Force base sits in has already cleaned up 30 million cubic yards of debris, compared with less than 3 million in those 50 counties in 2017. Nobody in the history of America has ever seen this much debris. We estimate that we are 20 percent of the way through our debris cleanup, and we have done more than anybody has ever seen in history. What are we going to do with these bases? Well, we are going to rebuild them. Of course, we are going to rebuild them. We love our military, and we need our military. I have never been prouder of any group than I have been of the airmen at Tyndall and the job that they have done to stand that base back up. They already have the first Air Force headquarters up and running, and that is air defense for all of North America. And we are ready to take back the F-22 training mission. Madam Chair, I am proud to say that Tyndall has done a great job rebuilding, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNN. Madam Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), my friend and colleague.

Mr. DUNN. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNN. Madam Chair, I rise today because the United States Air Force is in desperate need of our help. I am proud to cosponsor this amendment that raises the Air Force funding levels for fiscal year 2019. Our amendment brings the operations and maintenance account up to $670 million, which is the minimum the Air Force needs to continue to rebuild Offutt and Tyndall Air Force Bases. On October 10th, Tyndall--in my district--took a direct hit from Category 5 Hurricane Michael. Now, 7 months later, no supplemental funding has been provided. That is irresponsible. On May 1, Secretary Wilson was forced to halt all work rebuilding Tyndall due to lack of funds. This is a severe blow to our Nation's military readiness. These bases are critical to our Nation's defense for both combat and training missions, and some of the missions literally cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world. Madam Chair, our ability to defend America is suffering. My district and many other districts across our Nation are suffering from hurricanes, fires, and floods. Madam Chair, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Carter, who is a colleague, a friend, and a neighbor, and who also has genuine expertise on this subject. The administration recently published two rules that tackle the issues faced by both our Medicare beneficiaries and the pharmacies that serve them. One rule in particular, the ``Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenses'' rule, addresses pharmacy direct and indirect remuneration fee reform by instituting that DIR fees will be negotiated at the point of sale instead of the underhanded and retroactive fashion by which the plans and PBMs currently operate. Currently, pharmacies can face these clawback fees after they have already filled and sold a prescription for Medicare part D and Medicare Advantage patients. DIR fees have become a catchall category for pharmacy benefit managers to collect more overhead after prescriptions are sold. Pharmacies are often unaware of what they will owe, and the standards for these fees can be impossible to meet. As a result, many independent pharmacies in my district are forced to provide the drugs at below cost. Imagine that for just a moment. DIR fees are causing pharmacies to operate in the red, all while they are providing lifesaving medication to America's seniors. DIR fees have also led to drastic increases in out-of-pocket costs for our patients, which, in turn, forces seniors into the doughnut hole of Medicare part D even sooner. To protect seniors and pharmacists in my district, and as a medical professional, I urge CMS to finalize the language included in the rule that reflects the negotiated price at the point of sale.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because we have failed our military and all the victims of 2018 disasters across the country. On October 10, Tyndall Air Force Base took a direct hit from a category 5 hurricane. Over 6 months later, no disaster funding has been provided. Air Force Secretary Wilson warned us that if she did not receive supplemental funding by May 1, all new work on Tyndall Air Force Base would stop. This delays the return of base operations, impacts flight operations throughout the Air Force, and forces our airmen to work in degraded facilities. Mr. Speaker, May 1 has come, and I stand before you today because we have failed to deliver funding, and now our military readiness is suffering. We only have until May 15 to provide funding to the Air Force before they start cutting airplane repairs. I urge the leadership of the House and the Senate to pass a clean disaster supplemental immediately. It is necessary, and it is the right thing to do.

Mr. DUNN

Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to demand that critical natural disaster relief be voted upon. Tomorrow will be the 6-month anniversary of Hurricane Michael, 6 months with absolutely no disaster supplemental funding, no serious action on the part of Congress except the political farce in the House and two failed cloture votes in the Senate. Both Chambers have refused to extend even routine tax relief to ensure that people have access to their money when they need it most. With tax day just around the corner, this is unacceptable. Floridians are tough, but they need help and deserve help. Six months ago, Hurricane Michael devastated the South, damaging more than 90 percent of the structures on Tyndall Air Force Base, decimating our agricultural industry, and destroying entire communities. Yet, here we are with only 1 day left in the legislative calendar before Easter and no tax relief in sight. If the previous question is defeated, it will be a first step in making some meaningful progress for victims of all the 2018 disasters. It will bring the Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019 to the floor. I am a proud cosponsor of that bill with Tom Rice and Austin Scott. This bill includes a set of common, routine tax breaks victims of virtually every disaster over the last decade have been entitled to, things like access to retirement savings without penalty, a tax credit for employers who continue to pay employees while shut down, suspending tax limitations on charitable contributions for relief efforts, and allowing hardworking families to use earned income from the previous year to calculate their earned income tax credits and child tax credits. It is a shame that we have to resort to a procedural trick to ask for a vote on this very bipartisan, commonsense legislation that we have passed many times before. Mr. Speaker, it is time we take action to help those suffering from the 2018 disasters. For this reason, I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question.