Tom Graves

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Madam Speaker, when I was young, my Dad always used to tell me that if I dreamed big and worked hard, I would achieve much. Dream Big, Work Hard, Achieve Much. I have carried that advice with me my entire life. Those words fueled my ability to go from the hall of a single-wide trailer to the halls of Congress. I write that today as I reflect on what makes America so special: the ability to chart your own course and achieve any dream. My heart is filled with gratitude for our country and the enduring experiment of democracy that has allowed someone like me to end up in the U.S. House of Representatives for the past decade. Serving as the Representative of Georgia's 9th and 14th districts has truly been the honor of my life. This privilege was made possible by the sacrifice and support of so many wonderful people. First and foremost, my parents ``Big Tom'' and Penny; my wife, Julie; my children, Josephine, John, and Janey. My family has supported me every step of the way on this path of public service. My wife and children bore a burden that often goes unrecognized in politics. There are many precious days of life that we spent apart. Knowing their sacrifice motivated me every day to do the very best I could. Now it's time to shift the focus to them, and support their journeys and dreams, just as they supported mine. For my final words entered into the Congressional Record as a member of Congress, I want to share the most essential lesson learned over the past decade: the importance of relationship building. Tone, rhetoric and civility are crucial to opening doors to new and unexpected relationships with lawmakers from across the political spectrum. Often the best policies are the product of broad perspectives and creativity, with input from people who bring experience from different walks of life. I can think of no better embodiment of that ideal than the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress. Committee members hail from opposite sides of the country, with different professional backgrounds and life experiences. Regardless of our political and personal differences, our commitment to those we serve--our constituents--came first. The way our committee operated should serve as a model for this institution. Our bipartisan collaboration resulted in 97 recommendations to make the legislative branch work better. I hope that this work continues, because the American people deserve an institution that is as forward thinking and innovative as they are. Bipartisan relationships are at the heart of anything that can become law, and the American people are far better off when we connect over shared goals and work together to accomplish them. Serving on the Select Committee is the perfect capstone to my career in public service. I am grateful to my partner, Chair Derek Kilmer of Washington, for his outstanding leadership. Nothing the committee produced would have been possible without Chair Kilmer's bipartisan approach and boundless passion for our work. I am also grateful to Leader Kevin McCarthy of California for appointing me Vice Chair of the committee. It was truly an honor to be chosen from the pool of talented members I serve alongside. I am also filled with gratitude for my staff, who have delivered incredible service to my constituents and the country. These are people with a heart for public service, who truly care for our nation. I saw tremendous sacrifices made: long hours, late nights, the burden of stress and pressure that comes with the weight of the work, whether it was securing life-saving veterans benefits for one person or passing a policy that affects millions of Americans. My team carried themselves in such a way that it was clear they knew the honor and privilege of working for the U.S. House. In my tenure, I had two chiefs of staff: Tim Baker and John Patrick Donnelly, They led our teams in Washington and Georgia, which included the following people: My current staff, Bud Whitmire, Jason Murphy, Sam Mahler, Danielle Stewart, Ryan Diffley, Kristin Fillingim, Rachel Black, Max Berry, Diane Menorca, Tracey Bartley, Valerie Jones, Ashley Langston, Travis Loudermilk, Linda Liles and Jackie Mooney. My former staff, Josh Finestone, Jason Lawrence, Bo Butler, Drew Ferguson, Garrett Hawkins, Shivani Vakharia, Rebecca Anderson, Morgan Joyce, Maggie Newton, Kate Bell, Ansley Rhyne, Alicia Stafford, Matt Hodge, Paige Davies and Ericka Pertierra. Appropriations and Modernization Committee staff, John Martens, Jake Olson, Tim Monahan, Jenny Holmes, Dena Baron, Marybeth Nassif, Kelly Hitchcock, Ariana Sarar, Amy Catherine Murphy, Brad Allen, Allie Neill, Shalanda Young and Lisa Molyneux. These are just some of the many extraordinary people who contributed to our work over the years. Now, it is time for the next season in life. I will be forever grateful for the incredible privilege of serving my country and my community as a member of Congress. May God bless every person in this institution, those serving now and those who serve in the years to come, with the wisdom, strength and compassion to advance this great and glorious cause we call the United States of America. God bless America, and God bless Georgia. Go Dawgs.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I first met John Lewis just a few feet from where we are right now in the well of the House. I was a special elect Member-to-be, and it was John who welcomed me down in the well. I will never forget that day. It was his thunderous voice that filled the Chamber as he welcomed me and introduced me to each of you. He honored me that day. Afterward, he embraced me, and then he stood by me as I put my hand up and took the oath of office. It is truly a privilege now for me to be able to stand before you and to honor him not far from where he honored me as we remember the life and the legacy of one who is known as a gentle, gentle giant; a man whose courage and strength in the face of injustice and violence will forever be remembered; a man whose kindness and humility was apparent to anyone who had the opportunity to meet him. Our Nation has indeed lost a giant, and it is times like these that we must be reminded of the shoulders that we stand on, the shoulders of giants like John. I am better off because of John Lewis. We are all better because of John Lewis. Our Nation is so much better because of John Lewis. So, in the days to come, we should all strive to be a little bit more like John: humble, grateful, and thankful for the opportunity to leave this Nation in better shape for the next generation. May God bless John Lewis and bring peace to his family in the days to come.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as Vice Chair of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, I want to express my strong support for H. Res. 756, the Moving our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization Resolution. This resolution is the result of bipartisan collaboration and hard work by our committee members, who are committed to making Congress work better for the American people. H. Res. 756 marks the first time in recent history a select committee like ours has turned recommendations into legislative action. This is a testament to the hard work of our members, and the support from our colleagues on both sides of the aisle has been instrumental throughout this process. In the last year, the Select Committee has passed nearly four dozen recommendations crafted to make Congress more effective, efficient and transparent. Through conversations with our colleagues and listening sessions with congressional staff, we've worked to address everything from staff retention and recruitment to boosting bipartisanship and civility throughout the U.S. House of Representatives. Today's resolution addresses five key sections of reform: streamlining and reorganizing human resources; improving orientation for Members-elect and providing improved continuing education opportunities for Members; modernizing and revitalizing technology, making the House accessible to all; and improving access to documents and publications. These sections include 29 recommendations that were unanimously passed by our committee on a rolling basis throughout last year--another first for a committee like ours. We're committed to pushing boundaries and breaking the mold with our approach and the solutions we propose. Our chair, Rep. Derek Kilmer, has been a strong leader and bipartisan partner throughout this process. When the Select Committee first started, we chose to work together and combine our resources as one team, instead of separating the staff and office space by party line. This unique opportunity and approach has created a bond of trust unlike anything I've experienced in Congress. We have more work to do before the year is over, and I can think of no better capstone to my career in public service than to leave Congress in better shape for the next generation of leaders. Together we are giving the House a roadmap for a brighter future. I look forward to continuing our work as a bipartisan team and am grateful for the opportunity to help make a little history here in the House.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Madam Speaker, let me first thank Chairman Kilmer for his great work. How he has led this committee has been remarkable and an example for all committees, so I thank him for that example. Madam Speaker, I rise today not only to commend my good friend from Washington State, but to echo his remarks and also the pride and the joy that each of us on the committee share in the work that has been done. I guess tonight I am representing the six Republican members of this completely bipartisan committee, and we have all committed to work together in a great way. So, on behalf of our side, I thank the chairman for his good work. In the last year, as Mr. Kilmer shared, we have passed 45 recommendations to make Congress work better for the American people. Now, he has highlighted the way we have worked together to get that job done, and I want to commend him for leading us in an environment of bipartisanship and true collaboration. It is through his commitment to success and thinking outside of the box that we have been able to break the mold and to get this job done. This is an opportunity that comes around about every couple of decades, and to see the work that the chairman has done and how he has led this committee is really a great thing to be a part of. When the select committee first started, we chose to work together and combine our resources as one team. Instead of separating the staff and office by party line, we chose to just join together and work to get the job done as one team. As Mr. Kilmer often says: We decided to put the committee not in red jerseys and in blue jerseys but, instead, ``fix Congress'' jerseys. Thanks to him, this experiment has created a bipartisanship bond of trust and collaboration unlike anything I have seen in my 10 years here in Congress. In fact, our committee was only supposed to last for 1 year, through 2019. But thanks to the support of our colleagues throughout the House, from freshman Members to Republican Study Committee members, to House leadership in both parties, to the new Democrat members of that Caucus and many other caucuses, we were able to get our committee extended through the end of this Congress. Now, I know I speak for both of us when I say that we are grateful for the opportunity to build on last year's work and dive a little bit deeper into the issues affecting the legislative branch. Every recommendation we make aims to strengthen the capacity of the House so that we can better serve all Americans. Our goal is simple. It was something we set out early on in an early retreat that we had together. The goal is simple, but it is critical, and that is we are to make Congress work better for the American people. It is that simple but yet that critical. So, as the chairman shared, our first round of transparency-focused recommendations in May aimed to ``open up'' Congress for the American people. The work we do here in Washington is for our constituents, and they should be able to easily access information about our votes, about the bills and who is lobbying Congress. What happens here should just be a click away, as the chairman said a minute ago, just one click, one-stop shopping. We want to make sure that the American people can truly view the inner workings of Congress. While exploring ways to improve transparency and access, we heard from many of our colleagues and staff about the need for better technology and better processes here in the House. This also included giving offices the flexibility to hire more staff and to meet the needs of their constituents, as it is individual in each and every office. We also recommended creating a Congressional Leadership Academy to offer training for Members, not just any ordinary training, but professional development training, because each and every Member deserves that opportunity to better prepare themselves in how to manage their offices and better represent their districts. Every day that we are here, we should be asking the questions and learning about the issues that matter most to our constituents. Continued learning is an important part and an important piece of our representation here in Congress. Another one of our recommendations that I think is incredibly important is that Members of Congress should receive mandatory cybersecurity training. Now, this idea came from one of our colleagues on our Member listening day, Miss Kathleen Rice from New York. She has a bill that requires this practice, and it is something that we have pushed forward as a recommendation in the House. Congressional staff must undergo cybersecurity training, so our thought is that Members of Congress should do the same. In September, we held a hearing to discuss improving civility throughout the Halls of Congress. At times, it felt like we were going against the grain just a bit on this issue. Recommendations on civility and bipartisanship are not something that I think the American people have heard from much here in Congress, but I think that is why this committee's work matters so much. Even during times of division, we have to find a path forward. We recommended creating a bipartisan, Members-only space here in the Capitol to encourage more collaboration across party lines and instituting biennial bipartisan retreats for Members and their families at the start of each Congress so that Members and their families can begin to get to know each other. I have often said that the breakdown in civility and bipartisanship here in Washington is because of the breakdown in relationships; and, in fact, maybe it is because many relationships haven't even begun yet. So it is important that we can talk to each other but, most importantly, that we can listen to one another. So when it comes to communicating, we recognize the importance of good, robust communication with the American people as well. That is why we recommended increasing opportunities for constituents to communicate with their Representatives and allowing for faster correspondence between our offices and our constituents. Now, we aren't finished yet. We have more work to do before the year is over. And I can think of no better capstone to my legislative career than to leave Congress in better shape for future Representatives. Through the partnership of this committee with the Committee on House Administration, we have crafted legislation that will turn our bipartisan recommendations into results. This ongoing work is so important because it is the first time a committee like ours has seen its work move through the legislative process in this way. So, as I close, no idea is too big or too small, and we encourage everyone to continue sharing their ideas with us to reform Congress. Together, we are giving the House a roadmap for a brighter future, and it wouldn't be possible without the great leadership of Chairman Kilmer.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Scott for yielding and for coordinating this hour of tribute to a dear, dear friend and how humbling it is to follow my good friend, Representative Lewis, who swore me in just the same, Johnny, just over 9 years ago, right here in this same spot. I know this would certainly take more than an hour, and I know this is a Georgia delegation moment, but, Senator, I am certain that if the House would allow that, Member after Member from State after State would come down here and pay you tribute, just the same as we are today. As Members, we get up each and every day and we work hard to make sure our constituents have a great place to live and provide for their families. And it is not often that we have the opportunity to share about the impact that a single person might have made on our very own lives. Today is one of those rare occasions for me, and I get to do that today through the recognition of one of Georgia's giants. And I am going to do this today, Senator, take the opportunity to share of our first interaction, my first introduction, my introduction to Senator Isakson. It was November 6, 1990, and I was just your average 20-year-old college student. I was apolitical. I was just looking for a free meal that night. I was an idealist, very open-minded, and I was invited that night by my roommate to attend a political gathering. And my roommate just happened to be the son of Freddie Stevenson, who is a dear friend of ours, Senator. And that was my very first political event ever that I had attended, and it happened to be the gubernatorial election night celebration, or that is at least what I anticipated that night. I can remember that evening as if it were yesterday, and I know the Senator can, as well, as can so many others. As a north Georgia country boy, I didn't grow up in wealth or politics. I just worked hard every day just trying to get through each and every day. But that night I was impacted. There was a lot of energy. There was excitement in the room. And that is infectious, I know it is, but that is not what it was about that night. I was impacted more so than anything by a single person, a person I didn't even know yet, a person that I would soon get to know very well, though. You might suggest that I was impressed by the Senator's resume, his history and what he had done. I mean, after all, we glossed over what the Senator has accomplished, but he has served in the Georgia Air National Guard. The Senator has 14 years in the Georgia House as a minority leader. The Senator was co-chair of a Presidential campaign, president of one of the largest real estate companies in the country, and, yes, as has been mentioned, he was a Georgia Bulldog. All of that by 1990. That is impressive, but that is not what captured me that night. I was totally unaware of all those things. Nor could it have been his future, because none of us knew, none of us knew what might be yet. That was so many years ago. The fact that Johnny would one day run and be elected to the State Senate, that he would be a candidate for U.S. Senate in 1996, he would head the State School Board, be elected to the U.S. House in 1999, sworn in by the great John Lewis, and then 5 years later elected to the United States Senate as our senior Senator. There was something so much more, Johnny. There was so much more than that, Senator, that we had yet to know. I mean, it was more than the Senator's resume. It was more than the Senator's title, and it was more than what the Senator was going to accomplish that stirred me or that stirs any individual. It was on that night in 1990 where a man I had never met with a name I certainly couldn't pronounce with a history that I didn't know or a future yet untold, he caught my attention. My first true interaction, my first impact by a political figure in my life was that night in 1990. The results were not what the Senator had hoped for at the time or what the Senator had worked for, and yet, he was in a room of friends and supporters and had to address them that night. Now, if you were an onlooker like me, a 20-year-old college student, what do you expect? You expect maybe there is going to be bitterness, there is going to be regret, there is going to be some blaming, there is going to be some divisiveness. That certainly sounds familiar, certainly today. But it was different. Instead, Johnny Isakson, he took the stage with grace, with respect, with dignity, with vision and with a confidence that I never expected in a person. And whether the Senator knew it that night at that time, he chose to impact, and he chose to inspire. He chose to inspire me. I know the story is not unique to me. I know it is not. There are 45 years of stories like that. I just happened to be one. He was paying forward before it was even a thing to do. And now 29 years later I can stand before each of you, I stand before you as one who served in the Georgia House for 7\1/2\ years and now in my 10th year here in Congress and a future still yet untold. I get to stand before the Senator and say, ``thank you.'' I thank Senator Isakson. I thank him for caring. I thank him for being an example of what is needed so much today. It is with deep gratitude that I get to pay tribute in his farewell. To the one who might have lost an election in 1990 but won the trust of a 20-year-old college student that night, a true fighter for Georgia, a great statesman, and a dear friend, thank you so much, and may God bless the Senator in the days ahead.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3589, the Greg LeMond Congressional Gold Medal, which I've had the honor of working with Mr. Thompson of California on--a great partner and advocate in recognizing Greg LeMond's achievements. Mr. LeMond blazed a trail in American cycling, down which thousands of American cyclists have followed. Over a thirteen-year professional career, he raced to three wins at the Tour de France, one of the most arduous events in endurance sports, and became the first non-European to be crowned its champion. Even today, facilities like the Silver Comet Trail in my district owe their existence in part to Greg's legacy and excitement created by his achievements. Since his retirement, Greg and his wife Kathy have devoted thousands of hours to advocating against doping in sports, promoting athletic integrity, and serving others. As the lead Republican on the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, which includes anti-doping funding, I am only too familiar with the scourge of doping in sports. Greg has earned 750 accolades over his career, and while a Congressional Gold Medal may not rival a yellow jersey, I hope we are able to provide him this recognition.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, while I don't support this underlying bill, I thought I would take a different approach with this MTR today. We are heading into a long break. We are going to be separated from one another, and I thought it would be nice if we just thanked the other side for some of the things they have done in this bill. First, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friends on the left for including and codifying Hyde-like protections for the innocent unborn. With this vote today, it is encouraging that our friends on the other side of the aisle do agree--they do agree--that the lives of the innocent unborn deserve our protection, and that is in the underlying bill today. I would also like to thank my friends for their strong stand against the growing threat and spread of socialism around the world and recognizing that democracy is the answer. That is in this bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad that we came together in favor of boosting States' rights, standing behind the 10th Amendment for all of our States when it comes to banking for certain small businesses. That is in this bill, Mr. Speaker. Thank you. Lastly, let me thank my friends on the other side for recognizing the hard work and dedication of our Federal employees. The majority leader has allowed the 2.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment, a pay raise, to stay in this bill. Yes, Mr. Speaker, that raise does extend to all Members of this House. That took courage from the majority leader, and we want to thank him before we leave here this week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is not what the MTR is about, but we just wanted to say ``thank you'' for a moment. This MTR focuses on one major bipartisan issue, Mr. Speaker: keeping us out of war and enforcing sanctions, sanctions against Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Russia, and others which seek to harm our Nation. I can think of no one better that I could yield to at this moment to discuss the importance of this MTR than a Green Beret who has served in multiple combat missions around the world, has 20 years of service in the U.S. Army, an American hero, our colonel of the Army, Mike Waltz from Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz).

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Yes, Mr. Speaker, in its current form.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 32 Offered by Ms. Dean

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), I move to strike the last word.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the leader's comments. He is an observant Member, been here for many years. He has seen how government operates. And, quite frankly, there have not been too many examples of the consolidation of government agencies. But in a time of technology and advancements and modernization, I think government could merge some things together, could find some synergies, could save some dollars; and in this economy that we are experiencing today, what better time to do that? The unemployment rate is at the lowest it has been in 51 years. Allowing others to experience that opportunity of growth and wealth throughout the economy and additional job opportunities, take their skills somewhere else, that is great. But that is not really what OPM wants to do. They are being forced to do that because of last year's--or earlier this year, the inadequacy of a funding bill that put them in this position. It was the first big test of this new majority, and, unfortunately, it put these agencies in a tough spot. The only choice is to come up with other ideas and solutions, and that is, maybe we have to reorganize, maybe we have to modernize, but certainly we have to analyze how we can serve the American people better. In some cases, that might mean we can be leaner, more efficient, and more effective, and that might mean merging different agencies together and creating some new synergies. Mr. Chair, with that, I will oppose the amendment and ask others to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment, and not in opposition to Mr. Connolly in any way. I know that he is representing his district, his constituents, and his interests in OPM doing their job and doing it well. But there are some challenges. There is no doubt OPM has made it clear they want to perform their duties and their function, but in order to do that, they must reorganize. They must modernize. They must update themselves as an agency and an organization. We are seeing that across all agencies, but this one in particular needs some assistance. Mr. Chairman, I will add, their current funding, where they are today, is what is driving them to this decision to make this notice that, if things don't improve, they really don't have any other choice but to furlough individuals. Their option is to reorganize. But why are we in this position? It is because of the conference committee report earlier this year. The Financial Services bill was a part of the conference committee report. You will recall that. Maybe the focus was more on homeland security and on border walls and border security and other things, but this bill was a part of that. As a result of the product that came out of this body under the new majority, it was insufficient for OPM. Therefore, they are having to forewarn of decisions they are going to have to make. But we should give them credit. They are looking for an alternative, and that is to reorganize, to change, to modernize, to update. But do you know what, Mr. Chairman? In this bill, the underlying bill--not this amendment--they are prohibited from protecting these jobs. As a result of this bill, under this majority, they are prohibited from protecting the jobs. Now an amendment comes all the way back around the other end to say: Wait. You can't do what you want to do to protect those jobs, and you can't fire anybody. You can't furlough anybody. You can't reorganize. What are they to do? What are they to do? So I heard a really nice argument for this amendment, but I really didn't hear a solution for OPM. It would be nice that, if we are going to micromanage--and I think we heard a great quote yesterday: ``Just because you can micromanage doesn't mean you have to.'' But if we are, maybe we should provide some guidance and some assistance. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. This is another en bloc amendment, and, unlike the one we spoke on previously, this is purely a partisan amendment with really no reflection of a bipartisan tone whatsoever. In fact, it is really nothing more than a partisan attack on the administration and an attempt to make their lives a little bit more difficult, which we see every day around this place. It would be nice if the other side would recognize that the administration needs certain resources and needs access to those resources in order to carry out the functions of their job, just like we do here. Mr. Chair, because of those reasons, I object to the amendment, encourage a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, again, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee. He has done a wonderful job putting together 15 good amendments that we can all agree on, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Steil), one of our newest Members, who would like to speak on his amendment.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this en bloc amendment. I want to thank Mr. Quigley for working with Members from both sides of the aisle here to pull together a combination of 15 different concepts and amendments that we have included in this one amendment here and six of which are Republican amendments. So I appreciate Mr. Quigley's cooperation as we work through these issues that are important to all of us. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff), who is offering an amendment that is included in the en bloc.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I will close with this: This is not a political decision. This is a good-government decision. If this were a political decision, the Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, from the State of Georgia, who was in the agriculture profession himself in the past, would have moved it to the State of Georgia, I would assume, if it was a political decision. If everything had to reside in D.C., I guess we wouldn't need research facilities of other agencies elsewhere. We wouldn't need the FBI located in other spots. We wouldn't have the majority leader proposing to move the FBI out of Washington, D.C., might I add, to Maryland, of all places. Maybe that is a little more political, but maybe not. This is not a political decision. This is about making a good- government decision, closer to the farmers, to the researchers, to the universities, and to the ranchers. It might save $300 million of taxpayer dollars. Mr. Chair, because of those reasons, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, in the words of a great orator here on the floor of the House, Mr. Quigley, ``Just because we can micromanage them doesn't mean we should.'' This is a great example of it here. He was absolutely right, as it pertains to this. Last August, the USDA sought interest from U.S. towns, cities, and regions from all over the country to host two highly respected USDA research agencies. In October, they received interest from 136 unique locations in 35 States to host these two Federal agencies. After a thorough analysis seeing the diverse, qualified applicants and quality of life, USDA chose three locations and then selected the St. Louis area. Now, this wasn't just on a whim. In fact, it was Ernst & Young that did an analysis that said this would be a savings of $300 million to the taxpayers and the employees of the Federal Government. The Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to make this move, and he did so on behalf of the public's interest, the American people. There was a time when physically housing Federal agencies here in Washington, D.C., was necessary. However, I think we all know, in the use of new technology, the advancements that we have today, it has opened up the possibilities for these two and many other Federal agencies to operate efficiently in almost anyplace in our country, except for maybe Mr. Pocan's district because of the lack of rural broadband. Why should we oppose this move of two agriculture research agencies to the heartland? Think about it, to the heartland where agencies can recruit from a greater pool, a greater source of agricultural economists, and operate closer to the farmers, the ranchers, the producers, and the rural economies. Why would we want to stop the agency from doing that? Saving taxpayer dollars and the dollars of our Federal employees makes perfect sense to me, and it is because of those reasons that I will urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the gentlewoman's amendment.

Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment. I am glad he has brought this forward to highlight a few things. Mrs. Torres said earlier these funds could be used to assist local law enforcement. In fact, they can't. These are excess funds. And the statute clearly says ``to be transferred to Federal agencies for law enforcement purposes.'' That is what the administration was using them for. A little bit of a history lesson. The last 6 months, we went through a government shutdown because of this issue. We had a Homeland Security Conference Committee report that was supposed to resolve this issue, so deficient that the President declared it a national emergency, relating to this. Now we are having to have a supplemental budget discussion to deal with this very same issue while restricting the administration's access to these funds to address this very issue. Mr. Chair, because of those reasons, I support the gentleman's amendment and ask for adoption.