Virginia Foxx

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Tonko for those words. Madam Speaker, as we sometimes say here to keep from using up time we shouldn't use, I want to associate myself with all the comments made by my colleagues. Walter was all of the things that our colleagues have talked about. He had a fantastic Southern charm and a fantastic smile. He was humble; he exhibited acts of kindness; and he was pious, not self-righteous. I regret, as others have said, that I didn't take more time to spend with him. But I think even in Walter's death, he has done something we talk about doing here and that is to bring the House together on an issue. We are here to honor a very extraordinary man who did what his conscience told him to do, and he sometimes suffered the consequences. But I think tonight exhibits that doing the right things for the right reasons will be honored and has been honored tonight. I thank, again, all the Members who came here tonight to speak on Walter's behalf. We all benefited from that. I particularly thank the dean of our delegation, David Price, who was a longtime friend of Walter B. Jones, Jr. I thank his assistant, Gloria Nlewedim, for her great assistance in this. General Leave

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam 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 the subject of my Special Order, because I know there are Members who wish to insert their comments because they could not be here.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I would ask Mr. Price if he has any closing comments he would like to make.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I again thank Mr. Price for his contribution to this evening, and I agree with the gentleman. It is unfortunate sometimes that it takes a death to bring out these kinds of comments and this kind of camaraderie. We must remember tonight and practice it more often. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join with the Republic of Azerbaijan in its commemoration of the Khojaly Tragedy, also known as the Khojaly Massacre. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the town and people of Khojaly who died on those fateful days and in offering our deepest condolences to Azerbaijan on this tragic anniversary. In doing so, we remember the 613 Azerbaijani men, women, and children killed in Khojaly on February 25 and 26, 1992. The Government of Azerbaijan continues to act as a valuable partner of the United States and serves as a bulwark against America's adversaries in the region. We solemnly remember this anniversary and honor the lives lost.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Dr. Manderline Scales of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. During Black History Month, we especially remember the enduring contributions of great Americans like Dr. Scales, who is one of four Black teachers to integrate Winston-Salem schools. Dr. Scales worked in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools for over 20 years and spent nearly 30 years in various roles at Winston- Salem State University. She brought the first Spanish programs to these schools and was known for her belief that every encounter was an opportunity to impact students in a positive way. Additionally, she served on numerous boards, including the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, Delta Fine Arts Center, and Northwest Child Development Center. Dr. Scales passed away last month, but her legacy as a dedicated educator and selfless community leader will endure through the many lives she touched in her 91 years.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Price for yielding and for his wonderful comments remembering Walter. On behalf of the Republican Members of the North Carolina delegation--indeed, all the Members of our Republican Conference--we remember our long-serving colleague, Walter B. Jones, already miss him, and express our prayers for him and his family. Walter asked to be memorialized on the floor by his dear friend Thomas Massie, and Mr. Price will yield to him in a moment for that purpose.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the distinguished Member from Indiana, Congresswoman Walorski, for leading this Special Order tonight and all my colleagues who are here to affirm life. Mr. Speaker, abortion advocates used to say they wanted abortion to be ``safe, legal, and rare.'' Now, abortion advocates have reached new levels of disregard for new human lives by openly promoting infanticide. And legislation that would prohibit doctors from leaving born-alive infants to die cannot even get a vote under this new majority in this House of Representatives. Bills such as the Reproductive Health Act, RHA, which was recently passed with celebration in New York, are starkly at odds with reasonable limits on abortion that most Americans support and exposes the extreme agenda of the pro-abortion movement. The RHA would expand upon Roe v. Wade's already wide protections for access to abortion. In New York, an abortionist no longer needs be a licensed physician. If an abortion is not successful and the child is born alive, the law offers no protections for the life of the baby. It is almost unthinkable, Mr. Speaker. Such a horrifying bill should be met with disgust and outrage, not celebrated. It is clear that the value of life has eroded in our culture. Without a society that questions, ``What are the rights of the unborn?'' legislators can use their power to eliminate the right to life and promote the idea that life is dispensable. Proponents of the New York and similar Virginia legislation should ask whether these policies truly reflect a society where women are valued or where unwanted babies are worthy of protection. In a culture where aborted babies are collateral damage in so-called women's healthcare, we should all fear that, following unborn children and newborns, there will soon be new targets for disposal.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, abortion and infanticide are not examples of women's healthcare. Abortion advocates used to say they wanted abortion to be safe, legal, and rare. Today, they want abortion to be free, casual, and for newborns. It is distressing to see the new levels of disregard they hold for new human lives and how their language has fostered such numbness to the moral evil of abortion that there is now space in society to openly promote infanticide. The Reproductive Healthcare Act, RHA, law being celebrated by pro- abortion activists in New York and Virginia's Repeal Act bill, which is supported by pro-abortion activists, legislators, and Governor Northam, are horrifying indicators of that attitude and the spreading culture of death. This time, pro-abortionists have gone farther than ever before, by their own admission. Their actions fly in the face of the limits of abortion that most Americans support and lay bare the extreme agenda of the pro-abortion movement. Not only are they bent on the systematic removal of any protections for the unborn that exist in law, now they admit that they support infanticide. The sponsor of Virginia's bill said that a baby could be ``aborted,'' i.e., murdered, as he or she is being born. This should be a moment for reflection on the reality of the atrocities being committed in the name of so-called women's healthcare. These extreme and disgusting advances by abortion advocates expose the reality of our culture's view of human dignity writ large. Society can't allow these actions to go unchallenged and still believe that the culture supports human dignity. With their language, abortion advocates have been successful at dehumanizing the unborn and devaluing human life itself. The Repeal Act would further ensure that the life of a child remains unseen by repealing ultrasound requirements and the State's 24-hour waiting period before an abortion. It is as though society's ``ignorance is bliss'' mentality is a requisite for abortion advocates' agenda to strip unborn life of protection. Thanks to the tragic decision of Roe v. Wade, abortion can be performed in the U.S. in all 9 months of pregnancy for any reason related to a mother's health. The RHA preserves and expands Roe v. Wade's guarantees of access to abortion. In New York, an abortionist no longer need be a licensed physician, and if an abortion is not successful and the child is born alive, the law has an absolutely barbaric provision that ensures the child still dies. The RHA repeals section 4164 of New York's public health law. That section required abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy be performed in a hospital and that abortions performed after 20 weeks have a separate physician ready to provide medical care for any infant born alive during the procedure. This repealed section also protected children born after a botched abortion and required records to be kept of the infant's medical treatment. Without section 4164, infants who survive in an attempt to kill them in the womb have no legal right to life and could be denied the care they need to live. It is clear that the value of life has eroded in our culture. Without a society that questions ``what are the rights of the unborn?'' New York and Virginia legislators can use their power to eliminate the right to life and promote the idea that life is dispensable, even in the case where a child is viable and the mother's life is not in danger. Nothing warrants the evil of infanticide, yet calling abortion healthcare has become a widespread and acceptable justification for a woman to choose abortion over life. Meanwhile, supporting unborn life has come to mean being against women's choices. As a woman and proud pro-lifer, I reject this deceptive language and the false narrative it perpetuates. I also encourage proponents of the New York and Virginia legislation to ask whether these policies reflect a society where women are truly valued or where unwanted babies are indefensible. Finally, in a culture where aborted babies are collateral damage in so-called women's healthcare, we should all fear that, following unborn children and newborns, there will soon be new targets for disposal.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the vice chairman of our conference for his very, very kind words. We are neighbors in North Carolina, friends, and colleagues here who are concerned about the very same issues that face our country. We are worried about many, many, many things. We worry about the absence of a wall. We worry about the need for more national security. I know that we also worry and share the concern with what has happened in this Chamber in the last few weeks when we have heard a few loud voices whose rhetoric has completely departed from the bipartisan consensus on policy toward Israel. Just last May, for the 70th anniversary of Israel's independence, the House passed, by unanimous consent, a resolution that I introduced with two of my Democrat colleagues supporting robust, bilateral relations with Israel globally and fairness in its treatment in multilateral fora. The House of Representatives unanimously sent a message to the U.N. and the world that respect for Israel's national sovereignty and broad recognition of its statehood is a priority for U.S. national security and achieving peace in the Middle East. Over the past couple weeks, though, some new Members of this body have cast a cloud over this Chamber's long-time priority of the U.S.- Israel relationship. I has been suggested that support for Israel represents a betrayal of one's patriotism and that Israel has no right to exist. I reject that position. The simple truth is that, throughout history, Israel has made numerous concessions in the pursuit of peace while seeking only the right to exist. Opponents of the Jewish state don't seem to understand that supporting our ally is a matter of national security. On that basis, anti-Israel bias runs counter to advancing our national interests in the Middle East. Perpetuating the false narratives that there is an occupied Palestinian territory and that the Jewish people do not have any connection to the land only undermine the efforts to bring peace and stability to the region. Other statements that Israel has ``hypnotized'' the world harken back to an age of extreme insensitivity to Israel at best and a new acceptance of anti-Semitic norms at worst. By our own State Department's definition, applying double standards that require Israel behave in a manner that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation and denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination are anti-Semitic beliefs. We must reject this rhetoric and continue to support Israel as the major strategic partner that this body has long enshrined in our laws, our policy priorities, and our hearts and minds. With that, we are also improving our national security.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Boone Drug in Boone, North Carolina, on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of its original store, opened in North Carolina's Fifth District by Dr. George Kelly Moose. With this longevity of service in the community, Boone Drug can truly claim to be a neighborhood institution. When it opened, it was one of only two drugstores in Boone, and it has thrived in the midst of the changes of the pharmaceutical industry through the last century. For 50 years, customers went to see Dr. Moose, walking from miles away to buy their medicine at Boone Drug. The upstairs of the building was occupied by a group of doctors and a dentist, which kept constant traffic moving in and out of the store. Dr. Moose even kept his drugstore open until each doctor had seen his last patient, often late into the night. In 1947, two brothers, Dr. Odell Kelly--``O.K.'' for Odell Kelly--and Dr. Wayne Richardson, joined Dr. Moose at the pharmacy. The space was expanded for a soda fountain and grill, where many locals socialized, and the town's movers and shakers talked politics. Joe Miller was next to join the Boone Drug ownership. Having worked at the fountain in high school, the Richardson brothers convinced him to go to pharmacy school and eventually made him a fourth owner. Dr. Miller was joined by Dr. John Stacy and Dr. Jim Furman. They have kept alive the legacy of customer service, philanthropy, and business expansion of their predecessors. The Boone Drug pharmacists often volunteered their services, staying open until 9 p.m.; so that physicians could work long hours and patients could fill their prescriptions after a late-night doctor's visit. The store's philosophy was that anyone who came in with a prescription left with medicine, even if one didn't have the means to cover the entire prescription's cost right away. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Miller broadened the store's horizons, selling art supplies. The popular art supply store, named Cheap Joe's Art Stuff, began in the upstairs of the drugstore. At first, art supplies were placed on shelves between over-the-counter medicines downstairs. Eventually, what started as Dr. Miller's hobby outgrew the drugstore and Cheap Joe's Art Stuff moved into its own location, serving customers worldwide. Although the drugstore's fountain and grill closed in 2011, the owners have filled its former space with a nonprofit community kitchen that feeds the hungry. Today, there are 17 Boone Drug locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The pharmacists in these pharmacies serve as direct contacts for medical information without an appointment or the expense of a doctor's visit. Boone Drug provides a shining example of the important role that pharmacies play in supporting healthy communities. They provide immunizations, durable medical equipment, counseling, and expertise in healthcare. I have been a patron of Boone Drug since moving to Boone as a student at Appalachian State University and always enjoy my visits to the store. I continue to love all the wonderful employees and am privileged to represent this small business and local pharmacy. It treats clients like family, which is the hallmark of a small-town drugstore that lasts a century, and I wish Boone Drug another 100 years of success.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize J. Gene Faile for his outstanding career and his impending retirement after 30 years of dedication to healthcare administration. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Faile began his career at Yokota Air Base in Japan. Afterwards, he earned degrees in finance and business, and became a sought-after hospital administrator and advisory board member around the country. For 10 years, Faile has served as the President of Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Medical Center in my district, championing excellent patient care and strengthening the hospital's finances. During his tenure, Wilkes County has been blessed by his generosity and leadership, including with the March for Babies, Wilkes Community College, Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, and The Health Foundation, Inc. Although he will be missed in the Fifth District, I wish him and his wife, Peggy, a wonderful retirement with his family in Raleigh.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Article I, Section 1: ``All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.'' Section 2: ``The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. ``No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen. ``Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. ``The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.''

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Boone Drug in Boone, North Carolina, on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of its original store, opened in North Carolina's Fifth District by Dr. George Kelly Moose. With this longevity of service in the community, Boone Drug can truly claim to be a neighborhood institution. In January 1919, when it opened, it was one of only two drugstores in Boone, and it has thrived in the midst of the changes of the pharmaceutical industry through the last century. For 50 years, customers went to see Dr. Moose, walking from miles away to buy their medicine at Boone Drug. The upstairs of the building was occupied by a group of doctors and a dentist, which kept constant traffic moving in and out of the store. Dr. Moose even kept his drugstore open until each doctor had seen his last patient, often late into the night. In 1947, two brothers, Dr. Odell Kelly--``O.K.'' for Odell Kelly--and Dr. Wayne Richardson, joined Dr. Moose at the pharmacy. The space was expanded for a soda fountain and grill, where many locals socialized, and the town's movers and shakers talked politics. Joe Miller was next to join the Boone Drug ownership. Having worked at the fountain in high school, the Richardson brothers convinced him to go to pharmacy school and eventually made him a fourth owner. Dr. Miller was joined by Dr. John Stacy and Dr. Jim Furman. They have kept alive the legacy of customer service, philanthropy, and business expansion of their predecessors. The Boone Drug pharmacists often volunteered their services, staying open until 9 p.m.; so that physicians could work long hours and patients could fill their prescriptions after a late-night doctor's visit. The store's philosophy was that anyone who came in with a prescription left with medicine, even if one didn't have the means to cover the entire prescription's cost right away. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Miller broadened the store's horizons, selling art supplies. The popular art supply store, named Cheap Joe's Art Stuff, began in the upstairs of the drugstore. At first, art supplies were placed on shelves between over-the-counter medicines downstairs. Eventually, what started as Dr. Miller's hobby outgrew the drugstore and Cheap Joe's Art Stuff moved into its own location, serving customers worldwide. Although the drugstore's fountain and grill closed in 2011, the owners have filled its former space with a nonprofit community kitchen that feeds the hungry. Today, there are 17 Boone Drug locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The pharmacists in these pharmacies serve as direct contacts for medical information without an appointment or the expense of a doctor's visit. Boone Drug provides a shining example of the important role that pharmacies play in supporting healthy communities. They provide immunizations, durable medical equipment, counseling, and expertise in healthcare. I have been a patron of Boone Drug since moving to Boone as a student at Appalachian State University and always enjoy my visits to the store. I continue to love all the wonderful employees and am privileged to represent this small business and local pharmacy. It treats clients like family, which is the hallmark of a small town drugstore that lasts a century, and I wish Boone Drug another 100 years of success. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership over the years on the issue of life. Madam Speaker, in recognition of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade this coming Tuesday, I want to bring the real impetus of the pro-life movement to the forefront of civil discourse. The pro-life movement fights to protect life, from conception until natural death, and we stand ready to support mothers who face the challenges of an unexpected pregnancy. We also know that abortion is immoral and permitting it deeply wounds our society. The cause for life deserves to be heard this week. Lately, though, there have been nuanced attempts by the left to hijack the meaning of pro-life and impose upon it a Big Government agenda. We can all agree that the illegal ending of a life through violence is tragic and wrong. The reason the pro-life movement opposes Roe v. Wade is because the U.S. Supreme Court case permits the legal killing of our Nation's most vulnerable. The pro-life movement is at the forefront of human dignity. We know that upholding human dignity requires that people be able to meet their needs for housing, education, and nutrition. However, the public policies that lead to the optimal conditions for human flourishing are worthy of their own debates, so let's leave aside the straw-man tactics and have debates on those policies at the appropriate time. This week, we are talking about the inalienable right to life, from conception until natural death. To all who are fighting to protect life, know that I am proud of you and behind you 100 percent. As the 46th Annual March for Life takes place in Washington this week, I am sure the country will need look no further than the witnesses marching to the Supreme Court for an accurate understanding of what we pro-lifers are all about.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the sacrifice of Private John Gilley. The service and sacrifice of men and women like Private John Gilley are truly what makes our country great. Private Gilley served his country honorably in World War One, where he was wounded in the Battle of Courtrai. As a member of the 30th Division of the Army National Guard, which was attached to British Forces, Private Gilley took part in the campaign which resulted ultimately in the 30th Division breaching the Hindenburg Line to force the Armistice which ended the war. Thankfully, Private Gilley survived his wounds and was discharged in February of 1919. Our area, the State of North Carolina and our Country are fortunate that he returned to Westfield, North Carolina where he and his wife raised their nine children. While the Purple Heart was not available during World War One, Private Gilley was certainly eligible for it and it is fitting that it is being awarded to his family in his honor now. It has been my distinct privilege to work with Private Gilley's family to bring to light his sacrifice and give him the recognition he deserves. It is never too late to remember and honor those who have put our country's values above their own safety and well-being. I am here to commend not only Private Gilley but also to commend his family for their perseverance in achieving the recognition he so richly deserves and for continuing his model of patriotism.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 135, the Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act. H.R. 135 amends the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002, commonly referred to as the No-FEAR Act, to better identify and correct instances of discrimination throughout the Federal Government. Specifically, H.R. 135 requires Federal agencies to establish a system to track Equal Employment Opportunity complaints from beginning to end. This system must also track any disciplinary action that resulted from a finding of a discriminatory act. If a disciplinary action is taken by an agency against an employee, both the disciplinary action and the reason for the action must be included in the employee's personnel record. H.R. 135 implements notification and reporting requirements for instances of discrimination within Federal agencies. Agencies must post a notice on their website if the agency or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission finds that a discriminatory or retaliatory act has occurred. The bill also requires agencies to submit a report to the EEOC if a discriminatory or retaliatory act is found to have occurred. The report must include any disciplinary action initiated against an employee for discrimination or retaliation against another employee. Lastly, the bill bars agencies from using nondisclosure agreements or policies to restrict Federal employees from reporting waste, fraud, and abuse to Congress, the Office of Special Counsel, and Inspectors General. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Cummings for his good work on this piece of legislation, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I would like to make the gentleman from Maryland aware that I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 136, the Federal Intern Protection Act. The Federal Government is well served by interns who provide invaluable assistance to agencies. Many of the staff here in Congress itself began as interns, and I know my office, over the years, has been extremely well served by interns who have gone on to become a real credit where they have found themselves employed. Interns work alongside career Federal employees, helping to conduct agency business on behalf of the American people. Federal internship programs help agencies identify and develop the next generation of Federal employees. In exchange, interns gain valuable work experience. Many interns are students who benefit from the opportunity to develop experience in a field they might hope to enter upon graduation. Some students even receive credit they can apply at their institution of learning. Unfortunately, there are no existing provisions in Federal law that protect interns working at Federal agencies from harassment or discrimination. In O'Connor v. Davis, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the district court decision, finding an intern could not bring sexual harassment claims under Federal law. The court reasoned that the intern was not an employee and she was, therefore, not covered by existing law. The court concluded that: ``It is for Congress, if it should choose to do so, . . . to provide a remedy.'' H.R. 136 provides the remedy. The Federal Intern Protection Act ensures interns working for the Federal Government receive the same protections as employees. The bill prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability for interns working at Federal agencies. Discrimination disadvantages eager-to-work interns, but discrimination also disadvantages Federal agencies by interfering with the selection of the best intern candidate. I thank my colleague from Maryland, Mr. Cummings, for his sponsorship of this bill and for his leadership and commitment to protecting interns who work for the Federal Government, and I urge all Members to support the bill. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 202, the Inspector General Access Act of 2019. Inspectors general perform a critical oversight function with regard to misconduct at their respective agencies. This committee, the Oversight and Reform Committee, has a long history of advocating for IGs to have timely and complete access to all the information they need to fulfill their oversight and investigative functions. In continuance of that mission, H.R. 202 removes an unnecessary and outdated statutory hurdle that prevents the inspector general from investigating certain misconduct at the Department of Justice, DOJ. Current law requires the DOJ IG to refer allegations of misconduct by Department attorneys to the Office of Professional Responsibility, or OPR, rather than initiate an investigation himself. The OPR existed prior to the statutory creation of the DOJ IG in 1988. At the time DOJ IG was created, OPR retained the specific authority. H.R. 202 seeks to harmonize the Department of Justice IG's investigative authority with the rest of the Federal inspectors general who are not similarly restricted. Congress and this committee have consistently supported the need for independent and transparent oversight of Federal agencies and programs. The current bifurcation of investigative authority at DOJ is inconsistent with this committee's history of supporting the notion of an unencumbered IG. The DOJ IG is not without its own oversight. The IG is confirmed by the Senate, accountable to the public, and is only removable by the President after notification to Congress. Further, the IG has statutory reporting obligations to both agency leadership and Congress. The OPR, in contrast, lacks such independence from the agency it is obligated to investigate. The director of OPR is selected and appointed by the attorney general, answers to the attorney general, and can be removed or disciplined only by the attorney general. The IG's independence is critical to the value of their work. Also critical to the value of the IG's work is transparency. The IG maintains transparency by publishing its reports on a public website. The website also contains information about the IG's operations and functions and a full archive of completed and ongoing work. This standard of transparency does not apply to OPR. Adverse findings by OPR against a DOJ lawyer are subject to review by the Department's leadership and can be overruled by the Department's leadership without any transparency. It is important to note that this division of authority is a unique situation amongst the Federal IG community. The need for this legislation has also been discussed in multiple hearings before the Oversight and Reform Committee and in reports by watchdog groups. The DOJ IG, Michael Horowitz, testified before the Oversight and Reform Committee on the importance of eliminating this discrepancy. Congress's own watchdog, the Government Accountability Office, has issued reports with recommendations to empower the DOJ IG. This is a good bill, Madam Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to support it. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, again, I urge the adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 113 is a bipartisan bill to ensure government agencies buy United States flags made only from 100 percent American- made materials. Most Americans may think American flags purchased with taxpayer money for the government are made here at home by Americans using only U.S. materials. Surprisingly, this is not a uniform requirement in current Federal acquisition laws and regulations. Requirements in current law are inconsistent when it comes to the content of American flags purchased by executive agencies. The Department of Defense and the military departments generally are required to buy American flags made entirely of U.S. materials, but civilian agencies are currently permitted to buy flags that are manufactured in the U.S. consisting of only 51 percent American-made material, or sometimes even less than that. This bill brings all executive agencies under a single rule about the content of American flags bought by the Federal Government. The bill harmonizes and integrates this single rule with existing laws that require domestic content of U.S. flags purchased by the government. Rather than impose new rules and exceptions for DOD and civilian agency flag purchases, the All-American Flag Act recognizes and essentially adopts current DOD requirements and exceptions. The bill makes those flag purchasing standards permanent law and applies the rules to civilian agencies that buy U.S. flags. H.R. 113 contains limited exceptions that recognize practical realities such as domestic nonavailability. These exceptions reflect those contained in current law governing DOD purchase of textiles, including U.S. flags. I thank Representative Bustos and the many cosponsors who are leading this effort to honor America's greatest symbol of freedom, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina

Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd), the chief sponsor of this legislation.