H. Griffith

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, we have heard from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that we ought to trust the CBO, that the referee should be taken at their word and that they are doing the best they can. But let's look at this amendment. The CBO scored it, and they said: CBO estimates that your amendment would have no net effect on budget authority or outlays in fiscal year 2018. No net effect. Who here actually believes that eliminating 89 positions, as the gentleman from Virginia, my friend, just said it is going to affect his people, who believes that 89 people being eliminated and $15 million in aggregate salaries has no net effect on budget authority or outlays? I don't think any of us believe that. So here is the conundrum that my friends have on the other side of this issue: a ``yes'' vote means that you agree with me that something needs to be reformed at CBO; a ``no'' vote means that you agree with CBO's assessment that this amendment abolishing 89 employees will have no effect. Therefore, I would submit to you that the CBO has, in effect, determined that their budget analysis division has no value. Therefore, if you actually support CBO, you must vote ``present.'' Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to join me with a ``yes,'' and let's start the reform at CBO so we can get accurate numbers. If you don't agree with this reform, I ask that you vote ``present,'' or else you, too, are agreeing with the CBO that the budget analysis division has no value. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, we have heard some of the problems with CBO from Mr. Meadows. We heard from Mr. Perry immediately before on his amendment. The CBO is meant to help Congress evaluate legislation. But I do not believe the agency, as currently constituted, has or can do so effectively. Too often, predictions made by CBO turn out to be far off the mark. We heard about the 2002 farm bill and the 2008 farm bill from Mr. Meadows. That is true, but people back home may not realize that, in fact, we don't do a farm bill every year. We do one roughly every 5 years, sometimes a little later than that, so there have not been so many to score. One of our favorites on the Energy and Commerce Committee, on which I am pleased to serve, is the fact that, in 2015, we decided we would push forward and sell, as a nation, some broadband spectrum. CBO said zero dollars would be yielded from that sale. Now, I use this all the time when I am talking to high school students, because you don't have to be a CBO person living in the ivory tower that they must live in to understand that broadband spectrum has value in today's society, and zero is not the right score. In the end, it brought in $44 billion. When you take away the costs, it brought in a net $40 billion. CBO was wrong. CBO has overestimated on a number of things. Mr. Perry talked about ObamaCare. But time after time after time, they have gotten things wrong. They said it cost more or didn't save as much. In fact, I just saw, today, a report put out by Xcenda that the per- patient oncology drug costs were 0.06 to 2.3 times lower than what CBO said they were going to be from roughly 2003 to 2013, according to that study. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I would like to read the amendment because I think there must be some confusion on this, and it will become important later in the debate: ``The Budget Analysis Division of the Congressional Budget Office, comprising 89 employees with annual salaries aggregating $15 million is hereby abolished. The duties''--underlined duties, because it is only duties--``imposed by law and regulation upon the employees of that division are hereby transferred to the Office of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.'' That is the simple amendment, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life Mr. William Sinkler, 79, a dedicated educator who spent his life committed to serving the children and schools of Southwest Virginia. William (Bill) Sinkler was born on October 9, 1937, in Eutawville, South Carolina and his contributions to his community, particularly to young students, are impressive. Mr. Sinkler was a true Southern gentleman, dignified, and held in high regards by all of us who him. As an educator, he set high expectations for his students and modeled respect and integrity. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Sinkler had spent 40 years as an educator, and was the first African-American to serve on the Salem School Board. For his commitment to the young minds of Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Salem, Mr. Sinkler received a Virginia General Assembly Resolution to recognize his devotion to the students. In the Resolution, he was recognized for his life motto, ``I've got to be me,'' and how he brought his personality and talents into each endeavor he undertook. He grew up in South Carolina, graduated from Morris College in 1960, and then served in the United States Army. After his service in the armed forces, Mr. Sinkler studied at Virginia State College and earned a Master's Degree in Education at University of Virginia. He taught Math and Science, and served as an Assistant Principal and a Principal. By the time of his retirement, Bill was the Vice-Chairman of the Salem School Board, where he had served from 1993 to 2009. I remember Mr. Sinkler's friendship and his ability to work closely with officials on both sides of the aisle. Mr. Sinkler was a very involved member of the community, for years he served on the City of Salem's Fair Housing Board and Planning Commission, and was an active member of the Salem Rotary Club, Boule, The Links, Inc., NAACP, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Beta Sigma. He was also a dedicated member of the Shiloh Baptist Church, in Salem, Virginia. There, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees, and the superintendent of the church's Sunday school, as well as teaching Sunday school classes. Mr. Sinkler was recognized through numerous awards, such as the Salem Police Depart Citizen Academy Certificate of Recognition, and Roanoke Valley Father of the Year, for Education. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Sinkler's wife of 52 years, Marzetta; two sons, William and Wayne; two grandchildren, Karis and Mitchell; Sister Mary Q. Sinkler, and numerous extended family, as well as friends and loved ones. It is impossible to measure the impact of such a dedicated educator. Mr. Sinkler's legacy as an educator will live in the achievements of all the students who were positively impacted by his hard work and devotion.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 447, which would extend the construction commencement deadline for a hydroelectric project at the Flannagan Dam in Dickenson County. Extensive coordination between the hydroelectric project developer and the Army Corps and the current difficulties in obtaining a power purchase agreement have necessitated this construction start-date extension. This legislation passed the House last Congress unanimously and was included in the last Congress' House comprehensive energy bill. It is my hope that this legislation will once again receive overwhelming support in this Chamber. I appreciate the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 446, which would extend the construction commencement deadline for a hydroelectric project at the Gathright Dam in Alleghany County. Extensive coordination between the hydroelectric project developer and the Army Corps and the current difficulties in obtaining a power purchase agreement have necessitated this construction's start-date extension. This legislation has passed the House previously unanimously and was included in last Congress's House comprehensive energy bill. It is my hope that this legislation will once again receive overwhelming support in this Chamber. I appreciate the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, this bill guarantees access for all. And when I say ``access,'' let me be clear: it is access for all. When you have insurance companies that are pulling out--today we learned Aetna is pulling out of Virginia--and when you have counties across these United States that no longer have anyone who is willing to provide the ObamaCare insurance, that is not access; When you have a situation where somebody comes up to you at the local county fair and says, ``You have got to get me out of ObamaCare. It is killing me. It is killing our family's finances because we have such a high deductible, because we have such a high copay, and my husband is very sick,'' he may have a piece of paper, Mr. Speaker, he may have a piece of paper, but it is not really health insurance when you can't really use it without having to sell off what little assets you may have or worry about whether or not you can afford to have a roof over your head any longer. This is not working. ObamaCare is not working. This bill will bring some sanity back to the system. It will take us a couple of years, but the rates of insurance will, in fact, come down. This business that we keep hearing that all these people are going to be without availability of insurance, it is just fake news. It is not true. This bill does everything that people want it to do, but it gives them choices--not mandates from the Federal Government, but choices-- about their health care. I have been interested to hear some people saying that you all are just ramming this through because the bill wasn't posted until last night. What wasn't posted until last night was the Long-Upton amendment, or the Upton-Long amendment. It is two pages. I invite my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to read it. The McSally bill is a page and a quarter. The MacArthur amendment, which has been out for over a week, is about 8 pages. They could have read it while we have been standing here debating this bill. But they don't choose to read the bill, they don't choose to learn the facts, and they don't choose to tell the American people the truth. They want to scare the American people to make them believe that this is a bad bill. This is a good bill, and I urge everyone to vote ``yes.''

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I am joined today by Members of the Virginia delegation and Members who were affected by the horrific attack by a gunman at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. Today, we ask that all pause to remember the victims of this attack. Although 10 years have passed, those whose lives were tragically cut short or altered forever will not be forgotten. As we approach April 16, I ask that we keep the families and loved ones of the victims in our thoughts and our prayers. May God bless the Hokie community, their courage, their spirit, and their determination to honor the memory of those not here today. Accordingly, I would ask that all Members join me at this time in a moment of silence.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I submit these remarks in honor of the life and service of Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy Curtis Allen Bartlett, 32, who passed away while on duty in a tragic crash on March 9, 2017. Deputy Bartlett was a graduate of Galax High School. From 2004 to 2007, he dutifully served as an infantry soldier with the U.S. Army. Deputy Bartlett spent time working in the private security field and graduated from the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy in 2013. He joined the Carroll County Sheriff's Office in June of 2013 and since that time Deputy Bartlett was dedicated to serving the people of Carroll County. The Sheriff's Office will remember Deputy Bartlett for his commitment to public safety and said that his loss is being felt by everyone within his family at the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. An accomplished public servant, Deputy Bartlett earned instructor certifications through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) for firearms, Taser, and fitness training. Furthermore, he was certified through the U.S. Department of Defense as a K9 handler. Deputy Bartlett also achieved an FAA Airmen Certification as a successful pilot from the Federal Aviation Administration. He will be remembered for his dedication to health and fitness, as well as motivating others and promoting a healthy lifestyle as a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. I ask that you, and my fellow Members of Congress, join me in keeping his family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers, including his parents, Sam and Linda Bartlett of Galax, and four siblings. Deputy Bartlett dedicated himself to protecting the people of Southwest Virginia and I am honored to pay tribute to this great man.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, last month Congressman Welch and I introduced legislation H.R. 1038, Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Spending Act. The legislation would help ensure that small business pharmacies get reimbursed at the rate they agreed to when they signed the reimbursement contract with the pharmacy benefit manager (PBMs). Our bill would prohibit the PBMs/health plans from retroactively reducing pharmacy reimbursement that has already been contractually agreed to. If you fill up your gas tank when the price is $2.09 per gallon and the price later goes up to $2.15, you won't receive a bill demanding payment for the extra six cents per gallon. The same principle should apply to our community pharmacists. They deserve to be reimbursed based on the price of drugs when they are dispensed, not when they are charged. The fact that the PBMs can even do this points to the need for action on this bill and the need for broader Congressional scrutiny of large PBMs. Most Americans don't know who the large PBMs are and what they do-- three large PBMs control roughly 78 percent of the market and manage pharmacy benefits for more than 180 million Americans. PBMs not only manage benefits for insurance companies and employers, they also own their own pharmacies whether that is mail order, specialty or retail. Unfortunately small pharmacies in Southwest Virginia and Vermont have dealt with direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees for the last few years and the fees are only getting worse. The inability of small business community pharmacy owners to plan in advance for these retroactive fees is truly threatening their ability to operate. Additionally these fees push patients into the donut hole faster than they would otherwise, a fact that CMS has stated. CMS has also stated these fees are increasing costs to the government, especially in the catastrophic phase of the Part D program. Virtually all catastrophic costs in Part D are borne by the government, and they have increased dramatically in recent years--from $10 billion in 2010 to $33 billion in 2015--fueled by pharmacy DIR fees. These PBMs have an extremely robust business relationship with the Federal Government in Part D, FEHB and DOD TRICARE so it certainly seems possible that the Federal Government could be paying more for prescription drugs than it should be. Our bill was introduced with 15 original cosponsors and we hope that it will see action in the 115th Congress. Prohibiting retroactive fees like this would help CMS have a better ability to understand all the prescription drug spending that is occurring in Medicare Part D. Additionally, Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Jon Tester (D- MT) introduced identical legislation on the Senate side which seeks to attain the same goals. We very much appreciate their leadership on this issue.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Section 5: ``Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own Members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent Members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide.''

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Goodlatte for yielding. It is my honor and privilege to be here to recognize these three Virginians who have served their Commonwealth so well. Scott Rigell and I were elected along with Robert Hurt back in the same year, back in 2010. I got to know Scott when I got here. He is the one of the three who are retiring whom I did not know prior to coming to service in Congress. I learned that he was a hard worker, a dedicated public servant, someone who truly believed in trying to do everything the right way. Like myself every now and then, he was a little bit of a maverick and would cut his own way, but that is important in Congress, that we don't all walk in lockstep, that we work together but that we respect each other's opinions. Scott Rigell is a gentleman who certainly does that, and as a Representative, he has done that very well. I go next to Randy. With the exception of, I think, probably Congressman Scott has known Randy longer, having served a couple years in the State legislature before he came to Congress with Randy, I think I have served longer with Randy because I served with him first in the house of delegates, where he was a role model, one of the leaders on the floor in the Virginia House. He then moved on to the Senate just before Republicans took control of the House for the first time in 120-some years. He was a feisty floor debater, one who was always prepared, and somebody that I looked up to and used as a role model in trying to figure out how I was going to behave on the floor and act as a gentleman and yet be determined and fierce in defending my positions. Randy Forbes always did that in the Virginia House. He then went on to the Virginia Senate, where he, likewise, defended his positions and was known as a leader. Then he came to Congress, where he kept saying to me: You would love it. There are so many policy issues that you would get into. He enjoyed his time here very much, and not because he felt that it was just something that he enjoyed doing, but because he could take his talents and serve the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia with those talents and serve his Nation, the United States of America, with those talents as well. I suspect that we will see Randy doing other public service in the not-too-distant future, but I am so very glad that I had the opportunity tonight to talk about his service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and to the United States. Last but certainly not least, my friend Robert Hurt. Robert came after me into the Virginia House of Delegates. He, too, made the error of moving over to the senate. I think Congressman Scott made that error, too. But Robert Hurt and I got to be friends in the house of delegates. He was a newer member. He had to make some tough decisions early on. We didn't always agree, but I told him to stick to his viewpoint and that he would be fine. He is just a fantastic individual, a good friend. I am sorry that he decided to retire. I welcome his successor, but I am sorry that he decided to retire because I really enjoyed bouncing ideas off of him and sitting in the back row and talking about everything from birds that we might have seen alive or dead somewhere along the highway or keeping notes on some of the flora and fauna of our part of Virginia. Our districts abutted. Where Congressman Goodlatte and I share the Roanoke Valley, Congressman Hurt and I shared Henry County and that area as well, and it was truly an honor to serve with him. I didn't get to serve with any of the gentlemen on a committee. We have heard a lot of great testimony about what great committee members they were. I did not have that opportunity, but I did get to serve with them in the House for two of them and here on this floor for 6 years. It was an honor and a privilege to work with them and to learn from them and to watch as they behaved as gentlemen ought to do in a society and in a place where we may disagree, but we can be agreeable while we disagree on issues.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize the 150th anniversary of the Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church. Since it was built in 1885, the church has served as a place of worship, as well as a location for community activities and other gatherings. I have had the pleasure of visiting the Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church and appreciate the rich history of the building. Since its founding so many decades ago, the church has grown into a place for the New River Valley African American community to worship and celebrate their history and heritage, as well as host events such as the Annual Memorial for Martin Luther King Junior. The Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church is a brick building, described as Victorian Gothic style. The church is characterized by a tall tower in the southeast corner and its gable roof. Along with the Hill School and the Primary Annex, the buildings make up the Old Christiansburg Industrial Institute. In 2001, the complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church was founded by Captain Charles S. Schaeffer, from Pennsylvania. After the War Between the States, he was assigned to Southwest Virginia to work for the Freedmen's Bureau. He worked to assist the African American community economically, and also worked to assist the community spiritually. He strived to provide education, technical skills, and knowledge of Christianity. He set up, organized, and managed several African American churches, which led to the baptism of hundreds. It is said that Captain Schaeffer was respected for practicing as he preached, and for truly living out the ideals he spoke of. According to the records of the Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church, the building was completed and dedicated as a ``temple built unto the LORD on the mountaintop'' on October 4, 1885. At the dedication service, Captain Schaeffer gave the trustees of the church a deed to the property. I am proud to honor this historical site in Christiansburg, Virginia, and recognize all those who have found faith, comfort, and friendships as part of the Schaffer Memorial Baptist Church community since it was founded 150 years ago.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and Congressman Bob Goodlatte, I submit these remarks to commemorate the life of The Honorable James Pearce Brice, a devoted jurist and public servant to the Commonwealth of Virginia, who was born in Roanoke, Virginia, on August 7, 1926, and passed away on September 15, 2016, at the age of 90. In our years of practicing law, both Congressman Goodlatte and I had the pleasure of arguing in front of Judge Brice. We benefited from the expertise and wisdom he shared, as a street lawyer and a personal mentor, accumulated from an accomplished life. At the age of 16, Judge Brice entered the Virginia Military Institute. He joined the Merchant Marines, as soon as he turned 18, during World War II. He bravely served as a helmsman on an oil tanker in the North Atlantic and suffered the loss of his brother, Robert, on Omaha Beach in 1944. Before war ended, Judge Brice joined the United States Army and became a Japanese translator and interrogator. With his intelligence and flare for foreign languages, he continued serving with distinction in the Army Counterintelligence Corps in northern Hokkaido after Japan surrendered. Upon returning from abroad, Judge Brice went back to school and obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia, then earned his law degree from Washington and Lee University in 1954. He launched his legal career in private practice back in his hometown of Roanoke. He spent time working for the Veterans Administration, and then the United States District Attorney's Office, as an assistant prosecutor. Judge Brice was dedicated to his vocation. At the age of 42, he was appointed to the bench of the Roanoke General District Court, where he served as judge from 1967 through 1987. He retired as the chief general district judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit, but continued to travel across the commonwealth as a substitute jurist until the early 2000s. Judge Brice had a tremendous impact on many of our communities, as well upon countless individuals all across the region. Judge Brice will be remembered as a family man and a friend to many. We always appreciated his outgoing nature and shared his love of history. Judge Brice left the repeated impression of being a compassionate and fair arbiter, and he will be forever remembered by how much he believed in redemption. May his spirit of fairness and compassion remain with us. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy and influence will be long remembered across the entire western region of Virginia. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Judge Brice's wife of 62 years, Phyllis; his three sons, James, Steven, and Michael; his three grandchildren, Taryn, Trey, and Melissa; his family, friends, and many loved ones. May God give them comfort during this difficult time.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I submit these remarks to honor the life of Ms. Margaret ``Maggie'' Owen Poole, of Max Meadows, Virginia, who passed away on September 7, 2016. She was born November 22, 1932, daughter of the late William N. and Lula Metcalf Owen. I was always impressed with Maggie's work ethic and energy. Elected in 2007 to the Wythe County Board of Supervisors, she spent her life dedicating time and effort to her community. Maggie was the first to offer a helping hand to someone in need, and she put forth astounding effort in every task she undertook. In remarks at her funeral, it was said that folks ``felt certain that she is up in Heaven reorganizing things.'' This is a true reflection of how Maggie lived her life. She will be remembered for her generosity and hard work. Maggie will also be remembered for her strong opinions, which she shared confidently without reservation. With Maggie, you never had to wonder where you stood. She was a woman of many interests; a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, an avid bridge player, and a substitute teacher at George Wythe High School for many years. Maggie was a strong advocate for Wythe County. From her efforts to pave dirt roads, to her devotion to the development of the industrial site Progress Park, she tirelessly supported creation of local jobs and the betterment of her community. In addition to her position on the Board of Supervisors, Maggie was active in the Wythe County Republican Party, a Wythe County Extension Volunteer, and the recipient of the Honorary FFA State Farmer Degree. Maggie was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Stuart Poole and her grandson, Tom Poole. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in- law, Jay and Shelly Poole of Richmond, VA, Owen Poole and Liz Verhalen of Kingsport, TN; daughter and son-in-law, Billie Jean and Kurt Elmer of Bedford, VA; four grandchildren, Mary Elmer of Raleigh, NC, Kate and Brandon Turner of Christiansburg, VA, Morgan Poole of Minneapolis, MN and Adele Poole of Kingsport, TN; two brothers, James E. Owen of Rural Retreat, VA, Calvin and Diane Owen of Wilmington, NC; brother-in-law, Charles R. Poole of Birmingham, AL; sister-in-law, Faye Poole of Moneta, VA; several nieces and nephews. Maggie will be missed deeply by her family and loved ones. I know the Wythe County community will miss her hard work and numerous contributions. However, she will be remembered for the efforts she made to improve her community. On behalf of those who had the pleasure of knowing her, we thank her for her tireless service.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 495 on motion pass H.R. 5424, the Investment Advisers Modernization Act of 2016, I was detained. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the paper and wood products industry in Virginia, which employs over 1,500 men and women in my district; and I wish to recognize the achievements of the industry in improving purchased energy efficiencies. Sustainability is inherent to the pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, and wood products manufacturing industry. These products are made from renewable and recyclable resources, and these companies have a good track record of managing natural resources in order to ensure that they can continue making useful products in the future. In 2011, the industry established the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 initiative, pursuing one of the most extensive sets of sustainability goals established for a U.S. manufacturing industry. This week, the American Forest and Paper Association is releasing their 2016 report on the industry's performance. The industry has improved their purchased energy use per ton of production by 8.1 percent in 2014 compared to the 2005 baseline year, nearing the goal of at least a 10 percent improvement--and some pulp and paper mills are largely energy self-sufficient. In 2014, 15 percent of electricity needed to power manufacturing processes was self- generated, in some cases supplying energy to the electric utility grid. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating this industry on taking steps to improve environmental performance, continued economic progress, and support of our communities. I am proud of this industry's progress and their continued commitment to advance sustainability performance and the fact that they provide jobs throughout the United States.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I would just say that I recognize the concerns that the opponents to this amendment have; but what we are trying to do is to take some money, direct it for an environmental purpose, but also help take the reclaimed mine lands, make them right, make them so that they are the way they are supposed to be, and have a purpose that will then allow us to use--whether it be recreational, whether it be some other form of business, but allow us to use those lands for economic development in an area where unemployment is now peaking up over 10 percent, where depopulation is constant and where, frankly, Mr. Chairman, we can't afford more wait-till-next-year approaches from Washington, D.C. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My amendment provides a modest increase in grant funding to Appalachian States for the reclamation of abandoned mine lands in conjunction with economic and community development and reuse goals. Funding for these reclamation grants was first established last fiscal year at $90 million, but was provided exclusively to the three Appalachian States with the greatest amount of unfunded reclamation needs. Last year, I offered an amendment to expand this program to the next three Appalachian States with the greatest unmet needs. As you might imagine, Virginia is one of those three, with the other two being Alabama and Ohio. I am encouraged that the underlying bill heeds that call and expands these grants to do the next three Appalachian States, but the need is far too great in areas like southwest Virginia, and much more can be accomplished with a small increase in this program. My amendment increases the funding level for these grants from $90 million to $105 million, with that additional funding dedicated to setting a more balanced distribution of funds among Appalachian States. This additional funding is needed to really get in and do some work to help these Appalachian coal communities that have been economically devastated, while at the same time helping reduce the environmental impact of unreclaimed mine lands. My office has worked closely with the House Interior Appropriations Committee staff on this amendment language to come to a resolution that ensures that additional support for one Appalachian community does not come at the expense of another Appalachian coal community. This additional support will have a significant impact on economic development work throughout Appalachia, while being offset by a slight reduction in the EPA's environmental programs and management account, totaling only one-half of 1 percent of that account, reducing it from $2.527 billion to $2.512 billion. Additionally, I am encouraged that staff at the Congressional Budget Office have determined that my amendment would result in a reduction of $6 million in outlays for this fiscal year, as the money would be spent out at a slower rate over the coming years than would have occurred under the EPA's environmental programs and management account. This program is an essential tool to help reinvigorate coal communities throughout Appalachia struggling with restoring and reclaiming abandoned mine sites in a way that would help put people back to work. I urge Members to support this amendment and support these coal communities that are struggling now more than ever. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 349 on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4854, to amend the Investment Company Act of 1940 to expand the investor limitation for qualifying venture capital funds under an exemption from the definition of an investment company, I incorrectly voted ``nay'' when I intended to vote ``yea''.

Mr. GRIFFITH

Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Speaker, I submit these remarks to honor the life of Mr. Jackie Thomas Stump, who passed away on June 2, 2016. I had the pleasure of serving with Jackie, a coal miner-turned-legislator, in the Virginia House of Delegates, where he represented Buchanan, Tazewell, and Russell Counties. Jackie was born on January 13, 1948 in Lebanon, Virginia and served in the Air Force from 1967 to 1971, spending 18 months in Saigon as a jet mechanic. When he returned, he mined coal and in 1979 was elected secretary-treasurer of the United Mine Workers (UMW) District 28. In 1986, he was elected president of the UMW district, which covered most of Virginia. In 1989, during the Pittston Coal strike, Jackie ran and won a write- in campaign for the House of Delegates as an independent. He served until he resigned for health reasons in 2005. Jackie was one of a kind and, though he didn't often rise to speak on the floor, I will always remember that when he did, he usually shared the views of the ``little guy''--folks who many would say didn't have extraordinary wealth, power, or influence. Jackie also served on several boards and commissions, including the Virginia Parole Board and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Jackie is survived by his wife of 25 years, Linda Stump, of Abingdon; his daughter, Ahbra Stump, of Abingdon; and his ``furry companion,'' Ruffles. He is also survived by his mother, Margret Stump, of Keen Mountain; his sisters, Wanda Sue Justice and husband Danny, Christine Hicks and husband David, all of Keen Mountain; and numerous nieces and nephews. I have always appreciated the good working relationship and friendship that Jackie and I had, and will continue fondly remembering how very deeply he cared about Southwest Virginia and those who call it home. I am saddened by Jackie's passing, and extend my prayers and deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones during this time. May God give them comfort and peace.