Kay Granger

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to accept the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition, but I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, the amendment reaffirms the requirement that the Department of Defense have proper consultation in coordination with Native American Tribes. This amendment is good government, which is supported by current law and several requirements in the National Defense Authorization Act. I support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, but I don't oppose the amendment.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, I share the gentleman's concern and oppose the amendment.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, the defense POW/MIA Accounting Office performs tireless work to track, locate, and recover our fallen heroes, and I thank them for their continued efforts. Like my colleague, I support this important program. That is why the bill includes $10 million above the budget request to accelerate efforts to return our fallen heroes home where they belong. An additional $10 million will allow the program to continue to be successful; therefore, I support the gentleman's amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition, but I do not oppose the amendment.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would add to the $120 million for A-10 wings that has already been provided, as well as the $79 million included in the Air Force budget request. The Air Force has indicated to us that the additional funding in this amendment can be executed upon contract award, which is expected by the middle of 2019. Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to accept the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, but I do not oppose the amendment.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his attempt to highlight the importance of this critical research requirement. The Army is responsible for studying how a quantum network may provide enhanced capabilities for command and control and intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance applications. This funding will help those efforts. I appreciate the gentleman's concerns, and I accept the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition, but I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I understand the department supports this program and will request funds for it in the future budget request. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I claim time in opposition, but I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman's desire to provide additional funding to research illnesses that affect veterans of the Gulf war. The committee is committed to ensuring that our servicemembers, their families, and veterans receive the highest level of medical care possible. The committee already provides $21 million toward Gulf war illness research in the bill. Research includes a close look at how service in the Gulf war is linked to illnesses such as chronic fatigue, severe muscle pain, persistent headaches, and others. Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to accept the gentleman's amendment to provide additional funding in this area, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Rear Admiral Butch Dollaga for his outstanding service to our country and congratulate him on his recent promotion in the United States Navy. As the Director of the Navy Budget Congressional Liaison Office for the past two years, Rear Admiral Dollaga has made significant and lasting contributions while working closely with me, the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and across Capitol Hill to provide critical resources for our Navy's warfighters. He and his outstanding staff have worked tirelessly to ensure operational effectiveness at home and overseas. Rear Admiral Dollaga's promotion was earned from a career of accomplishments and experience. He began his military career after graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1990. Since then, he has served in an impressive variety of operational and staff assignments, completing numerous deployments overseas on both fast- attack and fleet ballistic missile submarines. His first command tour was the USS Charlotte, SSN 766, homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. While Captain of a Los Angeles-class submarine, he led 110 sailors in the completion of a Western Pacific Deployment. Prior to his current assignment, Rear Admiral Dollaga completed a second command tour as Commodore of Submarine Development Squadron Twelve in Groton, Connecticut where he was in charge of nine fast-attack submarines along with leading the tactical development of the U.S. Submarine Force. In recognizing these outstanding achievements, we must acknowledge the contributions of Rear Admiral Dollaga's family. Long and frequent separations are a way of life for sailors, and it takes a very special kind of family to endure the many hardships deployments and operational commitments present. For that, we owe his wife, Lani, and their family our deepest gratitude. As Rear Admiral Dollaga moves on to his new assignment as the Commander of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center, he leaves behind a legacy of distinguished service and professionalism. I want to extend my thanks for his exceptional service and wish him and his family fair winds and following seas.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3, the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act. We must always be careful stewards of the taxpayers' hard-earned money. That is why I was proud to sign on as an original cosponsor of President Trump's rescission package. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I understand more than most that President Trump's proposal rescinding nearly $15 billion is necessary. It is common sense that money sitting in Federal coffers and not being spent should be returned to the Treasury. This bill is a welcome step to cut wasteful spending and will restore fiscal sanity to Washington. Importantly, the rescissions package on the floor today no longer rescinds Ebola funding. Sadly, that horrible disease has recently returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also no longer rescinds funding for Hurricane Sandy victims. I hope the Senate will pass this bill as soon as possible so that the President can sign these historic spending cuts into law. I urge all Members to support this commonsense proposal.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 208.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to welcome Dr. Ted Kitchens as our guest chaplain this morning and greatly appreciate him leading us in prayer. Dr. Kitchens is from the 12th District of Texas, which I proudly represent. He's served as the Senior Pastor of Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth for the past 36 years. Under his leadership, Dr. Kitchens grew his congregation from 116 people to more than 6,000 members per week. Christ Chapel Bible Church has also grown to become a vital partner with the entire Fort Worth community. Dr. Kitchens has been married to his wife Lynn for 41 years, and they have two wonderful children, Kassie and Tyler. I want to thank Pastor Kitchens for all he does to serve our community and for providing us with spiritual guidance on this day.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, due to a personal conflict, I unfortunately missed votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 178 ``yea'' on rollcall No. 179 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 180.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Lieutenant Colonel Charles Del ``Shawn'' Jennings for twenty-two years of service with the Marine Corps. Lieutenant Colonel Jennings was born in Fort Worth, Texas and began his education in the Fort Worth Independent School District, attending David K. Sellars Elementary School. He later attended North Carolina Central University, and was a teacher and coach for five years before being commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Corps in August of 1997. In July of 2005, LtCol Jennings deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and served with distinction during his deployment to the Middle East. In 2011, LtCol Jennings deployed with the Division in support of Operation Tomadachi to provide humanitarian, disaster and relief assistance to the people of Japan in the aftermath of the massive earthquake and tsunami on Mainland Japan. Two years later, he returned to Quantico for duty as the Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. LtCol Jennings has been highly decorated throughout his military career. His awards include: the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 gold stars for third award, The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars for third award, the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, The Iraq Campaign Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, The Humanitarian Service Medal, and a Recruiting Ribbon. He also holds two Additional Military Occupational Specialties; 4802 Recruiting Officer-Operational Expert and 4804 Recruiting Officer-Multiple Tour Expert. LtCol Jennings is happily married to the former Michelle Ingram of Wilmington, North Carolina. They have a daughter, Jasmine, who is a second year law student at UNC Chapel Hill and a son, Jordan, who is High School Junior at Massaponax High School, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Please join me in thanking Lieutenant Colonel Charles Del ``Shawn'' Jennings for his many years of service to our nation. I wish him all the best in his new endeavors.