H. Griffith

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Eddie Elswick, who passed away on March 18th, at the age of 83. Mr. Elswick was born on January 30, 1941, in Pike County, Kentucky. He was one of the first in his family to attend college, studying industrial arts at Berea College, before attending Ball State University, where he received his master's degree in education. Mr. Elswick enjoyed a lengthy career with General Electric as a financial executive. He served as financial manager at several General Electric locations, and also negotiated government contracts. In 1980, his job brought his family to the Roanoke Valley. He took his financial experience with him to public office. As a member of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors representing the Windsor Hills District, Mr. Elswick worked to review County contracts and examine local government expenses. He took pride in advocating for the County's rural areas like Catawba and Bent Mountain. He also championed securing funding for Glenvar Public Library. Mr. Elswick's passions included bluegrass music, Corvettes, and the mountains. He served in the national guard, where he earned recognition as a sharpshooter. He was known to tinker with several cars and hunt for deer and bear. Mr. Elswick is survived by his daughters, Jill Elswick and Wendy Huffine; son-in-law, David Huffine; and brother Fred Elswick. I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Elswick over the years. He cared deeply for Roanoke County.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Coach Doug Blevins, who passed away on March 9th, at the age of 60. Coach Blevins was born with cerebral palsy. While his condition confined him to a wheelchair for his life, he was not deterred in pursuing a career in the sport of football. As a student at Abingdon High School, Mr. Blevins served as a student assistant coach, specializing in the kicking game. He would continue his education at Virginia Highlands Community College, University of Tennessee, and Emory & Henry University seeking more student coaching opportunities. Coach Blevins would stay close to home, starting his own consulting firm and assisting prospective kicking talents at summer camps, clinics and more. In 1994, Coach Blevins was hired to be a consultant for the New York Jets. He would go on to coach for several years in the National Football League, working for the Miami Dolphins and NFL Hall of Fame Coach Jimmy Johnson, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. From 1995 to 2000, he served as kicking coordinator for the NFL Europe League. He earned the remarkable achievement of becoming the NFL's first-ever disabled coach. Mr. Blevins' success as a coach caught the attention of many talented kickers dreaming of playing in the NFL. Modern-day kicking legends, Adam Vinatieri and Justin Tucker, are just two of 26 current and former NFL kickers and punters who were trained and mentored by Coach Blevins. Coach Blevins' years of hard work and tutoring prompted a significant recognition from the NFL community: his nomination to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame. Perhaps, someday he will be inducted. Most recently, he served as the kicking specialist at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), his alma mater, and as a volunteer assistant on the football staff at Science Hill High School. Coach Blevins' inspirational journey from Southwest Virginia to the NFL, and his contributions to the sport of football, will not be forgotten--along with his kindness and compassion for others. Despite his lifelong disability, Coach Blevins followed his dreams of coaching football and helped scores of young football players develop and succeed in the sport. May his legacy live on.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 341 and YEA on Roll Call No. 343.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 258, I mistakenly voted NO when I intended to vote YES. It is a general principle of mine to vote NO if I do not know the full extent of the amendment. I did not have the complete information on the amendment while on the floor at the time of the vote. Since then, I have gathered more information and based on that information I would have voted in support of the amendment.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for having this particular hour so that we can show our appreciation for D-Day and the veterans who were there. For all who are not going to Normandy on this particular D-Day, I would invite you to Bedford, Virginia, where the National D-Day Memorial is holding their ceremony this Thursday, June 6, at 11 a.m. Why, you might ask, would there be a memorial in Bedford, Virginia? The answer is because of the Bedford Boys of Company A, 116th Regiment, 29th Division. Per capita, Bedford lost more men on D-Day than any other community in the Nation. As a result of this, a number of people got together in the 1990s. Bob Slaughter from Roanoke, who was a part of Company A and was there on D-Day, was a major force in starting the push for this National D- Day Memorial in Bedford. Lucille Hoback Boggess lost two brothers that day. She contributed a lot of time, and her children are continuing the tradition of moving to make sure that people remember D-Day and the sacrifices of Bedford. Virginia Delegate Lacey Putney, the gentleman from Bedford, also was instrumental in making sure that the funds were available to get this project off the ground. It was such a success that on June 6, 2001, at the opening of the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia, President George W. Bush participated and gave the keynote. Today I read a letter not from one of the soldiers but from one of the wives of the Bedford Boys. Ms. Ivy Lynn Schenk wrote this touching letter to her husband, John. It is a reminder of how life went for folks on the home front, where daily chores and family visits continued unabated despite the epic global conflict that raged around husbands, sons, and brothers overseas. Her letter: Darling, it is 11:30 Sunday night. This has been a day of continual activity. Breakfast, church, to get milk and butter, dinner, packed the car to go to Mother Schenk's tomorrow. Washed the dog, dusted the beans, et cetera, in the garden to keep the bugs from ruining them. We intended gathering a little pile of corn to take out to Mother S. When we got at it, realized that there were too many ears just ready to use. So we gathered them, and now I am waiting for the pressure to go down in the cooker so I can take out my few pints of lovely, tender corn. I still have too many ears to take to Mother S. Mom and I just wondered what you would say if you could see us canning at 11:00 at night on Sunday. She says if the corn doesn't keep it will be because we canned it on a Sunday. I told her you were busy fighting on Sunday without even a chance to eat or rest. God grant that it will not be long until you can be done with all that and come home to enjoy a few months of peace and calm. All my love is yours, Lynn. John Schenk never received his wife's letter. Ivy Lynn wrote it on Sunday, July 16, 1944, intending to mail it the next day, but on that Monday, she received the telegram informing her that her husband had been killed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6. Bedford lost a total of 20 that day, 19 were from Company A. What happened on July 16 is still remembered in Bedford. The telegrams were received at Green's Drug Store. Elizabeth Teass came in to report she was the operator at 8:30 that morning when the notices started coming in. Somebody from Bedford had died. They would receive nine of those notices on that one day alone. The notices kept coming in to Green's Drug Store Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Today, we get used to having instant communications, but back then, for the men who died on June 6, families didn't find out for more than a month that they had lost their loved ones. Today, Bedford's Green's Drug Store is the Bedford Boys Tribute Center. The people of Bedford will never forget. I was very glad to have known a number of these soldiers before they passed away, those who survived, and to have known Ms. Boggess when she was campaigning with the Virginia legislature to make sure the National D-Day Memorial became a reality. It is a wonderful, wonderful tribute. I encourage you all to visit. God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 219, H.R. 5863.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Kelly Lungren McCollum, my Chief of Staff since my election to Congress in 2010. Kelly is retiring from Capitol Hill today, having served several Members of Congress for more than twenty-five years. The daughter of former U.S. Congressman Dan Lungren, Kelly was born in Long Beach, California. Upon her father's first election to Congress, her family moved to the Washington, DC area in 1979. Raised in Vienna, Virginia, Kelly attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School. Kelly graduated from high school in three years and started at Santa Clara University. Shortly thereafter, Kelly began a career in August of 1994 as a Congressional staffer for then-U.S. Representative James Inhofe, who at that time was running for Oklahoma's open U.S. Senate seat. During Kelly's time in Congress, she held every position in my district and D.C. offices, other than Legislative Director. After her service to the Sooner State, Kelly returned to Capitol Hill and entered a new chapter of her professional life, serving as Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. Around the same time, she would meet her loving husband, Jason, whom she has been married to for nearly eighteen years. Kelly would continue in Congress, dedicating a period of time to the legislative team of U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert before the beginning of a thirteen-and-a-half-year career as my Chief of Staff. As my Chief of Staff, Kelly will be best remembered as a true professional, a dedicated servant to the people of Virginia's Ninth District, and a source of responsible leadership for my staff, colleagues, and family. More importantly, she has been a great friend. Congratulations to Kelly on her remarkable career. Her institutional knowledge, loyalty and leadership are qualities that will be missed by my office and many others. I wish her nothing more than the absolute best.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Nathaniel ``Ray'' Tuck, Jr., who passed away at the age of 52 on February 11, 2024, after battling cancer for the past 2\1/2\ years. Ray was born in Roanoke, Virginia, on April 30, 1971, to Nathaniel Ray and Barbara Z. Tuck. He later graduated from Radford University and earned a doctorate of Chiropractic from the National University of Health Sciences in 1997. After graduating, Ray joined his father's chiropractic clinic in southwest Virginia, where they practiced together for many years. His son, Nathaniel R. Tuck, III is currently in chiropractic school, hoping to continue the family legacy. During Ray's incredible career, he served as the president of the Virginia Chiropractic Association, chairman of the board and later president of the American Chiropractic Association, and he was also appointed to be the chiropractor on the Virginia Board of Medicine. Ray is survived by his wife, Bonnie, of 29 years; his daughter, Abi Dolgos and her husband, Dakota Dolgos; grandson, Gatlin Dolgos; his son, Nathaniel; his son's girlfriend, Abby E. Markham; his mother, Barbara; his sister, Amelia Martin and her husband, Buddy Martin; his brother, Ben M. Tuck and his wife, Priyam Chipper. I wish them peace and strength during this difficult time. I was lucky to know Ray personally, as my daughter, Abby, has dated his son, Nathaniel, for a number of years. Nathaniel and Abby met when they were both pages in the Virginia House of Delegates. I have to tell you, we were sharing carpooling duty, and all the kids said Ray was the cool one, and somehow I was not. I found this shocking, but it is true. Ray was quite a great guy, and I was glad to have the opportunity to know him. He was a good man, and we will all greatly miss him. Recognizing Kelly Lungren McCollum

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Kelly Lungren McCollum, my chief of staff since my election to Congress in 2010. Kelly is retiring from Capitol Hill today, having served several Members in Congress for more than 25 years. She joins us here on the floor. She is the daughter of former Congressman Dan Lungren. Kelly was born in Long Beach, California. Upon her father's first election to Congress, her family moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 1979. As you can see from the picture, she was a very young member of the Reagan Revolution. Raised in Vienna, Virginia, Kelly attended our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School. She graduated from high school in 3 years and started at Santa Clara University. Shortly thereafter, Kelly began a career, in August of 1994, as a congressional staffer for then United States Representative James Inhofe, who at that time was running for Oklahoma's open U.S. Senate seat. After her service to the Sooner State, Kelly returned to Capitol Hill and entered a new chapter of her professional life, serving as chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. Around the same time, she would meet her loving husband, Jason, whom she has been married to for nearly 18 years. This is a picture of Kelly and I, not Jason and Kelly, earlier this month at the Capitol. Kelly would continue in Congress, dedicating a period of time to the legislative team of U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert before the beginning of a 13\1/2\ year career as my chief of staff. As my chief, she will best be remembered as a true professional, a dedicated servant to the people of Virginia's Ninth District, and a source of responsible leadership for my staff, colleagues, and family. I have to tell you, my wife made it a whole lot easier for her because they tell jokes about me back and forth all the time. I also will tell you of one fateful day when it had been kind of a hard day. I am changing the spelling to protect the innocent. People who know me know that I am not that great of an administrator. I love legislating, I love serving the people, but administrating and running an office is not my thing. She had a hard day, and she said: I hope they won't think I am a witch, to which I smiled and responded: Kelly, I hired you to be the witch. You have got to run this place, and I greatly appreciate it. Most importantly, she has been a great friend. I congratulate Kelly on her remarkable career. Her institutional knowledge, loyalty, and leadership are qualities that will be missed in my office and many others. I wish her nothing more than the best.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Chief Deputy to the Smyth County Commissioner of the Revenue, Rebecca ``Becky'' Kress. Ms. Kress is set to retire in May, having served in the Smyth County Commissioner's office since 1990. Beginning as a deputy, Ms. Kress started her thirty-four-year career in the office with great determination. She worked several years managing taxpayer assistance, assessing taxes and reviewing business and personal property. Ms. Kress exhibited strong character and excellence in her role. She exercised great command of her responsibilities and dedication to Smyth County. These attributes prompted her rise within the office. In 2008, she became Chief Deputy for the Smyth County Commissioner of the Revenue. She has received honors for her work, garnering the esteemed title of Master Deputy Commissioner of the Revenue. Under her leadership, many Deputies have enjoyed enrollment in the Master Deputy program. Ms. Kress is credited with passing on a wealth of institutional knowledge and ensuring seamless operations, as she served three different Commissioners. She has given her colleagues invaluable insight and wisdom on tax issues. Her contributions to Smyth County include delivering fair and precise assessments to its citizens. Ms. Kress is a model of outstanding service to her community. Congratulations to Ms. Kress on a job well done. I know that her colleagues and the residents of Smyth County will greatly miss her efforts in her role as Chief Deputy to Commissioner of the Revenue, but recognize that she deserves to enjoy retirement with her husband, Don, along with her loved ones and friends.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mayor David Helms, who passed away on March 20th, at the age of 83. Mayor Helms was born on October 11, 1940, in Glade Spring, Virginia. Upon his graduation from Glade Spring High School, he studied elementary education at Emory & Henry College. Later, he received his master's degree in education from Radford University. His first education jobs included teaching stints at Meadowview Elementary School and Glade Spring Elementary School. Later, Mr. Helms served as Assistant Principal and Principal of Marion Primary School. He served in his role as Principal until his retirement from education in 2000. From 1990-2000, Mr. Helms served on the Marion Town Council. He became Marion's Mayor in 2000. In public office, Mayor Helms pursued projects to revitalize downtown Marion and improve his community. Mayor Helms was a fierce advocate in recognizing veterans for their contributions and sacrifices. He worked closely with the Marion VFW chapter and the East Tennessee Chapter of Rolling Thunder. Mayor Helms also played an instrumental role in promoting Marion's Memorial Day activities. Marion's Memorial Day parade is one of the most patriotic festivities in the Ninth District of Virginia. I have loved being in the parade with Mayor Helms. It receives widespread praise across the Commonwealth and the region every year. Also, Mayor Helms was an active member of the Glade Spring Volunteer Fire Department. He admitted that firefighting and rescue services were in his blood. Mayor Helms is survived by his wife Sue Winsett Helms; brother-in- law, Clyde Hoots; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and their families. I had the pleasure of working with Mayor Helms over the years. His love for Marion and Smyth County was evident. As a public-school teacher, principal, and town council member, Mayor Helms exhibited some of the finest qualities of a public servant.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Nathaniel ``Ray'' Tuck, Jr., who passed away at the age of 52 on February 11, 2024, after battling cancer for the past two and a half years. Ray was born in Roanoke, Virginia, on April 30, 1971, to Nathaniel Ray and Barbara Z. Tuck. He later graduated from Radford University in 1994 and earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from the National University of Health Sciences in 1997. After graduating, he joined his father's chiropractic clinic in Southwest Virginia where they practiced together for many years. His son, Nathaniel R. Tuck, III is currently in chiropractic school, hoping to continue the family legacy. During Ray's incredible career, he served as the President of the Virginia Chiropractic Association, Chairman of the Board, and later President of the American Chiropractic Association, and was also appointed to be the chiropractor on the Virginia Board of Medicine. Ray is survived by his wife, Bonnie, of 29 years, his daughter Abi Dolgos (husband Dakota Dolgos and grandson Gatlin Dolgos), his son Nathaniel (girlfriend Abby E. Markham), his mother Barbara, his sister Amelia Martin (husband Buddy Martin), and his brother Ben M. Tuck (wife Priyam Chipper). I wish them peace and strength during this difficult time. I was lucky to know Ray personally, as my daughter, Abby, has dated his son Nathaniel for a number of years. He was a good man, and I was glad to have been able to know him before he passed. We will all greatly miss him.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Carroll County High School Girls Head Basketball Coach Marc Motley. Coach Motley is stepping down from his head coaching position after two decades. Coach Motley graduated with a BS from Radford University in 1996. He is a Physical Education and Driver Education instructor at Carroll County High School. Coach Motley amassed a win total of 433 victories in his twenty-two seasons with the Carroll County Cavaliers, winning more than 76 percent of his contests during that timeframe. In addition to coaching in thirteen state tournaments, Coach Motley led the Cavs to back-to-back Class 3 state championships in 2022 and 2023. During those championship-winning seasons, Coach Motley recorded a 52-3 record. For these accomplishments, he was recognized both seasons as the Class 3 Girls Basketball State Coach of the Year. He has developed countless players, putting some in positions to take their athletic talents to collegiate institutions. Coach Motley has fostered relationships with many of his fellow teachers, students and parents. Former players routinely return to Carroll County to celebrate Coach Motley's milestones and accomplishments. While Coach Motley's accolades are significant, it is important to recognize his sacrifices. The number of hours required of a head coach of any high school program is great. The job pulls one away from other important engagements and restricts time away from loved ones and friends. Congratulations to Coach Motley on a job well done. Under his leadership, Carroll County has been put on the map for high school basketball. I know that his colleagues and students greatly appreciate his dedication to the educational and athletic progress of his players. Coach Motley's impact on Cavalier basketball is to be commended.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Judge Onzlee Ware, who passed away on February 10, 2024, at the age of 70. He was born in North Carolina on January 4, 1954, to the late Onzlee McCrimmon and Edna Taylor. While attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Onzlee was charged with possession of heroin and marijuana, but later had those charges dropped when he agreed to become a police informant. A year later, it was revealed in court that he was an informant. Because of that revelation, he was subsequently shot and critically wounded, eventually losing his left leg. This harrowing experience would shape the rest of his life and reinforce his belief in second chances. He would later come to Roanoke to work with Boy Scouts of America, which is where we met. He eventually became a lawyer, and we became friends. Our friendship was first cemented while spending hours photocopying form files in my office. We then served in the Virginia House of Delegates together, where I knew him as someone who would often reach across party lines to get things accomplished for his fellow Virginians. In 2013, Onzlee helped then-Republican Governor Bob McDonnell pass his transportation plan. After leaving the House of Delegates, Onzlee was appointed as a judge, serving in juvenile and domestic relations court. It was there that he used what he learned earlier in life to reach out to juveniles, telling them they could turn their lives around and be successful, just as he had become. He later rose in the ranks to become a circuit court judge. Onzlee Ware was a trailblazer. He served as the first Black legislator from the western part of Virginia and later the first Black judge in Roanoke Circuit Court. He made an impact on so many throughout his life, his legacy will live on for years to come. He was my friend. I will miss him.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Robert ``Bob'' Anderson Craighead, who passed away on February 9, 2024. He was 97 years old. Mr. Craighead was born on December 18, 1926, in Hyattsville, Maryland, to William M. and Jean C. Craighead. He graduated from Andrew Lewis High School at age 16 and then began a 44-year career in railroads, as a messenger in the N&W's Blacksmith Shop. Not long after, Mr. Craighead's railroad career was put on hold when he volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, serving as a rifleman with the Fourth Marine Division and earning a Purple Heart after being wounded in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He also tried to volunteer for the Korean War when the war broke out, but because of his injuries, was turned down. After returning from World War II, he completed a four-year apprenticeship, and moved to the Industrial Development Department in 1954, retiring in 1987 as Regional Manager. During his life he served as the President of the Salem/Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Salem Industrial Development Authority, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, and he was a member of the Regional Partnership of the Roanoke Valley. He also served as director and Vice President of the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association, establishing the Craighead Family Endowment, awarding scholarships to graduates of Salem High School. When I was a boy, growing up in a mother-led single parent household, Mr. Craighead was very kind in making sure that I was included in activities with his boys. Following his retirement in 1987, Mr. Craighead wrote and published a book titled, ``Jackson's Legacy.'' He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet Terry Akers Craighead, his parents, and his two brothers, William M. Craighead, Jr. and James L. Craighead. He is survived by his five children and their significant others, Russell Craighead and Cynthia Miller, Anne Craighead, Steve and Beth Craighead, Nancy Craighead and Janet Ardam, Tim and Debra Craighead; adoptive daughter, Amanda Allen; nine grandchildren; and sixteen great- grandchildren. I wish them my sincerest condolences during this difficult time. I want to thank Mr. Craighead for his service to our country and note that he was a valued member of the Salem community throughout his life.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Roy Scherer, who passed away on December 8th, at the age of 81. Roy was born on February 2, 1942, in Richmond, Virginia. He spent most of his childhood attending military schools and then went on to spend a few years in the U.S. Air Force after graduation. According to his family, Roy's experience at the 1969 Democratic Convention in Chicago inspired him to fight injustice wherever he saw it. For him, one of those injustices was the penalties for drugs in Virginia. Roy formed Virginians for the Study of Marijuana Laws, becoming Virginia's first registered marijuana lobbyist. In 1977, Roy was arrested for sneaking weed plants into the Virginia State Capitol. According to Roy, Delegate Cranwell didn't know what a weed plant looked like and wanted to see one, so he brought one in to show him. This explanation was apparently true and led him to being let off the hook. When I was in the House of Delegates, he came to all of the Subcommittee on Courts of Justice meetings, advocating for saner drug policies and weed legalization. There was once a bill introduced which would make the penalties in Virginia for crack cocaine and powdered cocaine possession similar to those in the federal law. Roy stood up and detailed how powdered cocaine was used primarily by white drug users and crack cocaine was used primarily by black drug users, and that in the bill the penalty for crack was far harsher than for powered cocaine. Knowing the Members of the Committee, Roy knew we wouldn't stand for this injustice. Bob McDonald, Dave Albo, and I looked at each other and then looked down the dais. Kenny Melvin and others looked back and instantly we knew Roy was right; we amended the bill to make the penalties equitable. Years later, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the federal law because the inequitable drug penalties were unconstitutional. Roy Scherer proved that, at least in Virginia, a well-reasoned conscientious citizen could address his government and be heard. We will always be indebted to his example. Roy was also a big supporter of concealed carry. Being that he had no driver's license, Roy would ride his bicycle to the Capitol and keep his gun on him as the route he traveled to the Capitol was through an unsafe part of town. However, when he wanted to eat in a restaurant nearby, he would have to hide his gun in a bush outside of the restaurant. This led him to fight for concealed carry in restaurants in Virginia. Roy is survived by his beloved wife and best friend, Sally, his sister Barbara, and his brother Frank, as well as many friends. I wish them all my deepest condolences for their loss. A true Libertarian and a dedicated citizen, Roy made an impact on everyone he met, including myself. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Chair if that also applies to any germaneness that might apply that would otherwise be in violation of the conference reports stated in rule XXII.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I would ask if now is the appropriate time to make points of parliamentary inquiry and motions related to the properness of H.R. 2670, the conference report, being before this House?

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire as to whether or not when originally filed, H.R. 2670 complied with the requirements of the rules of the House to have a single purpose stated, and if so, what was that single purpose?

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, point of parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, that is why we tried to do it before the motion was made. I am questioning how can a Member exercise his rights under the rules to raise objections when the rule clearly says it must be done before the commencement of debate. Now we are told that once a measure has been called up and the motion has been made, we can't make the inquiries or challenge the properness of the conference report.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, point of parliamentary inquiry. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman cannot be recognized for H.R. 2670 at this point, how does one comply with the section in rule XXII that says a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may raise a point of order against a nongermane matter as specified in subparagraph 2 before the commencement of debate? We have to do it before the debate starts or we have waited too long; is that not correct, Mr. Speaker?