Ron Estes

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Smith for hosting this Special Order on the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade to remember the devastating impact on children and women, and to celebrate the sanctity of all human life. Each and every life is precious, a unique gift with intrinsic value. Furthermore, science is clear that, at just 16 weeks old, a baby's body is fully formed and has fingerprints, and a baby can even make facial expressions. Mr. Speaker, I have been blessed with three incredible children, each one of them unique with their own special personalities, talents, and dreams. As a father, I am excited to see what impact they will have on the world. Each of them will contribute to society and bring a unique perspective to the world that only they can. As we approach the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I am reminded that in the past 45 years there have been over 60 million fewer individuals in the country today because of abortions. That is 60 million fewer people living the American Dream, starting families, farming in Kansas, or going to medical school to save lives. Their fate was determined before they even had a chance to show the world their talents. In my home State of Kansas, I am thankful for the countless volunteers who assist with educational programs and outreach to ensure that we are becoming a society that values life, even before a child is born. For many years, my wife and I have been involved with Kansans for Life and have been blessed to work with so many tireless advocates for life. Hundreds of these volunteers are coming here this week for the March for Life. With 63 percent of Americans now supporting abortion bans after 20 weeks--that is 5 months--I think we are seeing an incredible pro-life generation. This gives me hope, Mr. Speaker, and I am ready to see what kind of impact these unborn children will have on our world.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4578) to authorize certain counter terrorist networks activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4578, the Counter Terrorist Network Act. The fine men and women in uniform at U.S. Customs and Border Protection are tasked with an incredibly important mission. Every day, they protect our Nation from transnational criminal organizations, human traffickers, and terrorists who wish to exploit vulnerabilities at our Nation's borders. To execute this critical mission, the CBP has developed a cadre of subject matter experts that are well versed in counternetwork operations. These experts work tirelessly at our Nation's seaports, airports, and land border crossings, honing their skills, stopping the flow of illicit goods and people, and creating actionable intelligence. Given the fact that the CBP is uniquely positioned on our Nation's front line, it would seem expected that members of the CBP would have the authority to participate in counternetwork activities that target terrorists and transnational threats, both domestically and internationally. However, this is not the case. Currently, the CBP lacks the statutory authority to assign CBP personnel to specialized counternetwork details and liaison assignments with a national security focus. H.R. 4578 seeks to mitigate this deficiency by giving the Commissioner of the CBP the statutory authority to assign personnel to these specialized task forces and collaborate with appropriate Federal, State, local, and Tribal entities to enhance border security operations that focus on disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist networks. By granting this authority to the Commissioner, the CBP's collaborative efforts will result in enhanced information sharing and an increase in intelligence-driven enforcement operations. Lastly, H.R. 4578 requires the Commissioner to provide a report to Congress within 6 months of enactment, substantially describing the ongoing efforts to defeat threats posed by transnational criminal and foreign terrorist groups. Mr. Speaker, I thank Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Vela for introducing this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the law enforcement community and to vote in favor of this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I, once again, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4578, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4559) to conduct a global aviation security review, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Katko for his leadership on this important piece of legislation. It is essential that we continue to improve aviation security in order to stay ahead of the evolving threat posed by Islamist terrorists. It is clear that terrorists around the world remain intent on attacking aircraft. That is why over the past year the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration have worked to raise the global level of aviation security. One area of potential improvement is through working to increase security at overseas last point of departure airports. In October, I joined a bipartisan delegation of congressional members from the House Homeland Security Committee to several of the largest last point of departure airports, including Amman, Jordan; and Frankfurt, Germany. We examined current threats to aviation security and got to look at how our foreign partners have worked to stay ahead of all the potential threats. This legislation seeks to improve global aviation security standards by directing the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to conduct a comprehensive review of aviation security implementation and challenges across the global aviation system. This legislation will help improve coordination and outreach, both within the United States Government and with foreign partners regarding improvements to aviation security. It makes sense for our security agencies to work with our foreign allies who are facing the same security threat that we face. This legislation will help the DHS locate and implement best practices, which are being used overseas. The fight to protect travelers isn't one that we face alone in America, and this threat isn't going to dissipate anytime soon. That is why this legislation is focused on ensuring that our agencies build partnerships and can learn from our foreign partners. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. One of the things that we are seeing today, in an increasingly dangerous world, is how do we face these threats and work together. This bill is intended to help work to be more efficient across not just America but with our allies in making our aviation travel more safe and secure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3202) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report on cyber vulnerability disclosures, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3202, the Cyber Vulnerability Disclosure Reporting Act. It is hard to find an electronic device today that doesn't connect to the internet. From smartphones to alarm clocks, everything is part of the Internet of Things. Americans can do everything, from personal banking to unlocking the front door, with the palm of their hands. As the world has become increasingly interconnected, vulnerabilities in computer code underlying these devices and the applications they run can often expose the average American to exploitation by hackers, criminals, and even bad actors from nation states. As more and more critical and personal information is being stored on the internet and more industrial systems are being operated autonomously, it is vital that we are able to plug the holes in vulnerable technology. It seems like every day we read about another data breach that could have been prevented if only the company had known about a vulnerability in the product or network, occurrences such as the WannCry ransomware that affected hundreds of thousands of computers in more than 150 countries, and the recently reported meltdown that could affect millions of personal computers throughout the world. That is why, in this world of ever-increasing intrusions, we must do our best to make sure our computer systems are as invulnerable to attack as possible. The Department of Homeland Security was given the authority by the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 to improve cybersecurity in the United States through enhanced sharing of information about cybersecurity threats. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 allows the Secretary to coordinate with industry to develop departmental policies and procedures for coordinating the disclosure of cyber vulnerabilities as described in the Vulnerabilities Equities Policy and Process published by the White House on November 15, 2016. This disclosure is important, as it highlights vulnerabilities and allows the public and private sector to work to prevent and mitigate cyber threats. H.R. 3202, the Cyber Vulnerability Disclosure Reporting Act, is an important tool, in that it requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to Congress on their policies and procedures for disclosing vulnerabilities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this bill. With an ever-increasing reliance on technology today, we need to make sure that it is secure and safe for us to use and that the vulnerabilities are addressed so that we can maintain a safe and secure environment. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3759) to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a Family Caregiving Strategy, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. 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. 3759.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 3759, the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act of 2017, otherwise known as the RAISE Family Caregivers Act. Mr. Speaker, not all Americans have the luxury of complete independence. They may struggle to dress themselves, manage their retirement, or take their medications adequately. When we think of these instances, we may think mostly of seniors, but that is not always the case. Veterans, Americans with physical and mental disabilities, wounded warriors, and even children with medical conditions rely on a family caregiver to help them live their daily lives. Though they may have physical or functional limitations or an illness or chronic health condition that impedes their ability to fully care for themselves, many are able to remain safe and comfortable in their homes due to the important role of the family caregiver. Nationwide, there are roughly 40 million family caregivers who provide physical and emotional care for parents, spouses, children, and other loved ones in need of assistance. These caregivers are unsung heroes who devote both their time and resources to the day-to-day activities that are necessary to provide a disabled loved one with care. These activities may be to drive their loved ones to doctor appointments, provide them with meals, assist in the management of their finances, and administer at-home nursing and care so that their loved ones may continue to live at home. Taking on the role of a family caregiver is a deeply personal decision, characterized by selflessness and compassion for a relative in need. It is estimated that, on average, the Nation's caregivers dedicate about 18 hours each week to carrying out their caregiver tasks, while almost a third provide over 60 hours a week of care. These activities provide an annual economic value of $470 billion each year. About 60 percent of caregivers have full- or part-time jobs in addition to their caregiving roles, leaving them to juggle their caregiving obligations with their work hours and their personal and family time. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act will direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a Family Caregiving Advisory Council to make recommendations regarding best practices on recognizing and supporting family caregivers. The council will include members from the public and private sectors, family caregivers, elderly Americans and people living with disabilities, State and local officials, and healthcare providers. The Secretary will then publish the council's findings so that the family caregivers may be equipped with the information that they need to be successful in their roles. The council will provide information about streamlining Federal and State activities to maximize efficiency, and it will preserve the integrity of family rights and person-centered care. This is an opportunity to help improve the quality of life of millions of Americans who both provide and receive familial care. One important provision of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act ensures that the Secretary of Health and Human Services is prohibited from mandating best practices or expanding the Federal authority in any way. Additionally, the bill does not authorize any additional funds for the formation of the council and, after 3 years, the council and its related activities will sunset. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act is an important step we can take to recognize the essential role of family caregivers and share important information so that they can better care for others. This legislation fulfills a bipartisan recommendation of the Federal Commission on Long- Term Care. The Senate passed this bill earlier this year by unanimous consent, and the House of Representatives now has the opportunity to have this bill signed into law. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation so that family caregivers are recognized for the important role they play in our communities. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Harper).

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time. Mr. Speaker, before I came to Congress in April, I served as the Kansas State treasurer. In that role, I had the opportunity to implement the ABLE Act, which was legislation that was passed here in the last few years. Talking with a lot of parents, as they were abled and concerned about how do they care for their disabled children, led to the creation of the ABLE Act. During that process, we also talked with a lot of other caregivers who cared for maybe senior citizens, maybe adult children who were in their home, and wanted to make sure that that burden that they faced in providing that family care was ameliorated and supported in any way that it could be. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act will help recognize the essential role of family caregivers and share important information so that they may better care for others. This legislation fulfills a bipartisanship recommendation from the Commission on Long-Term Care, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3759. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 95) expressing support for the use of public-private partnerships to bring computer science education to more K-12 classrooms, as amended.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 95.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 95, expressing support for the use of public-private partnerships to bring computer science education to more K-12 classrooms. Mr. Speaker, science, technology, engineering, and math education, known collectively as STEM education, all play a critical role in how we educate and prepare the next generation of America's workforce. Many of our Nation's most successful business leaders and entrepreneurs place an emphasis on modern coding and computer skills. These skills are a result of a STEM education. As an engineer who worked for many years in the private sector, I would like to emphasize the need for more of our students to be equipped with backgrounds in STEM. The American economy and workforce have undergone a rapid transformation, thanks to the rise of technology, and its role in America's future is only going to increase. As advancement continues, it is critical that the country's students are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to compete at the global level. These skills can be gained through the expansion of K-12 STEM education. America has long been a pioneer of innovation in medicine, energy, agriculture, and other new technologies. We take pride in our ability to cultivate, innovate, and change the world for the better as new trends in every corner of the economy require a workforce equipped to meet those demands. However, if we do not adequately prepare our future scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and computer scientists, other countries will outpace us. We cannot allow this. Of all the projected new jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematic fields, computing is estimated to make up two-thirds of those positions. At the present, there are over 500,000 unfilled computing jobs nationwide, and those numbers are projected to grow at twice the rate of other jobs. In my district in Kansas, we need students to learn STEM in order to fill new jobs in advanced manufacturing. When Congress passed landmark legislation earlier this year to strengthen career and technical education, or CTE, it sent a clear message to students and employers that Members of the House of Representatives recognize the growing skills gap in this country, and we are committed to improving alignment with in-demand jobs so that the 6 million job openings nationwide may be filled with students equipped with the necessary tools to make our workforce even stronger. Congress has once again had the opportunity to help close the skills gap by launching more American students into fulfilling STEM careers. These careers are not only in high demand, but they are also high skilled and among the highest paying jobs for new graduates. Students who enter this field are not only helping to close the skills gap in our country, but they are setting themselves up for a lifetime of meaningful work and personal fulfillment. In fact, 9 in 10 parents want their children to study computer science, but less than half--only 40 percent--of schools teach the subject. Low-income students and students hailing from small towns and rural communities are especially at a disadvantage. Their schools are much less likely to offer computer science courses than schools in urban areas and those that serve middle class students. A ZIP Code and economic data does not determine whether a child will need to excel in computer science, and it should not determine whether that child receives computer science education. We need coders and computer scientists from a wealth of backgrounds to build the most capable and robust workforce in the world. Encouraging public-private partnerships to bring computer science education to more K-12 classrooms nationwide is a commonsense solution to develop STEM education around the country. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will support this resolution to encourage efforts to provide more students access to these important skills so that they are prepared to join our Nation's workforce. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fleischmann).

Mr. ESTES of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Taylor).