Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, no hearings whatsoever, and yet the Speaker stood up and said that we are following regular order. We are not following regular order at all.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Garamendi for bringing this Special Order. Mr. Speaker, I just want to tell you, in 7 minutes, I, along with the other members of the Rules Committee, will be meeting on what is described as an emergency meeting. That emergency is what you all have been describing. We were originally scheduled to meet at Rules tomorrow, and now, in an effort to jam this measure through, we are meeting in an emergency capacity. What the American public needs to know is the substance of what you two gentlemen and others have been talking about, but please know this: every Member deserves the right to contribute to these bills when they affect all of our constituents and will lead to millions of Americans paying more in taxes. You all will handle the substance, but I thought that I would add that in with my thanks to Mr. Garamendi. It is just atrocious what is going on, and not just Democrats or Republicans, but many persons who sent their Representatives here are not going to have their Representatives be heard.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, in addition to hearing from experts and from affected entities around the country, now we are doing it in 2 weeks. Mr. Speaker, I have to go to the Rules Committee, but I thank you all for what you are doing.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest birthday wishes to Coach Herman ``Big Man'' Pittman, who will be celebrating his 90th on Sunday, November 19, 2017. As a young man, Herman was a gifted athlete. He displayed great ability to play the game of basketball, and throughout his high school career at Tampa Middleton High School, he played as the team's point guard. Because of his success, he would go on to earn an athletic scholarship to attend Florida Agriculture & Mechanical University (FAMU), where he lettered on the football team, as well as played starting guard on the FAMU Rattler Basketball Team. During his time at FAMU, Herman led his team to two Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championships. He would go on to make First Team All-SIAC Conference and All-SIAC Tournament Team for two years. After graduating from FAMU with his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Herman joined the U.S. Army, where he was co- captain of the Fort Meade Generals in Maryland. Herman would go on to earn a Master's of Science in Health and Physical Education from Indiana University. Herman began his career as a teacher and coach for the Dillard High School Panthers in 1955. He taught physical education and driver's education, and also coached basketball, football, and track during his tenure of 37 years. He also coached at Deerfield Beach High School, making a total of 18 years of coaching. His career as a basketball coach, record of conference participation shows seven Conference Championships, as well as being voted Outstanding Coach of the Conference five times. His teams won six District Championships and were runners-up two times. His teams also qualified for the state tournament seven times, having won four state titles, they qualified for participation in the National High School Tournament held at Tennessee State University in 1959, 1963, 1965, and 1967. His coaching records and contributions earned him the title of ``One of the Winningest and Most Outstanding Coaches in the Nation.'' For Herman's outstanding contributions and commitment to youth and other service involvements in Broward County, he has been awarded numerous honors. The Community and School Board have likewise renamed the Dillard High School Gymnasium as the ``Herman Pittman Gymnasium.'' As an educator, Herman once stated, ``I feel I'm out here trying to educate a child for life. I try to teach them to be able to make adjustments in a changing society. I do the same thing in the classroom that I do on the basketball court--you have to teach young people how to live.'' This is something that Herman has been committed to his entire life. Outside of teaching and coaching, Herman has continued to dedicate his time to serving in a wide array of organizations that include: Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. Fraternity, First Baptist Piney Grove Church, ``Meals on Wheels,'' The Kiwanis Club of Central Broward, FAMU Alumni Association, F Club, and the Dillard Task Force. On Friday, November 3rd, Herman was honored at the 23rd Annual Mount Olive Development Corporation (MODCO) Community Service Awards Gala, entitled ``A Celebration of Savvy Senior Citizens & Committed Military Servants.'' Among the things that he said was ``the world is always evolving,'' in his 90 years he has evolved with the world. And, he has stood the test of time. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to wish a very happy 90th birthday to my very good friend, Coach Herman ``Big Man'' Pittman, whose service and dedication to the State of Florida and our nation is truly admirable. Herman will celebrate his birthday with his lovely wife Nielza, their three daughters Linda, Lisa, and Lavette, and their four grandchildren Chelsey, Colin, Mika, and Cody, as well as so many in our community, who love and respect all that he has contributed. I wish him many more years of happiness and success.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Keiser University on the commemoration of their 40th anniversary, which they will celebrate on November 10, 2017. Keiser University was founded in 1977 by Dr. Arthur Keiser and his mother Mrs. Evelyn Keiser, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. By establishing Keiser University, Dr. Keiser and Evelyn sought to provide individuals the necessary educational tools for successfully navigating their chosen careers. Over the past 40 years, Keiser University has been a shining example of what one can achieve through hard work and dedication. It has grown to become the third largest not-for-profit university in Florida, bolstering 66,000 alumni, over 100 degree granting programs, and 18 campuses across the state. Keiser University has even stretched beyond U.S. borders, establishing campuses abroad in Nicaragua, Moldova, and China. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have watched Keiser University grow and expand its reach. Today, it has an annual economic impact of approximately $3 billion in Florida, while benefiting our residents with over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs each year. Keiser University's philosophy of putting students first and treating them as individuals is to be commended. Their diverse student body includes veterans, first-generation students, parents, caregivers, and students who have already joined the workforce. Keiser University provides the skills necessary for students to be successful within our global economy, while maintaining flexibility through an impressive online curriculum, which allows non-traditional students the ability to access the quality education they rightly deserve. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Keiser University's co-founders and family, Dr. Arthur Keiser, his mother Mrs. Evelyn Keiser, and Ms. Belinda Keiser, and the independent Keiser University Board of Trustees, for their enduring commitment to providing students with a superior education. Over the past 40 years, Keiser University has proven itself to be a home for quality higher education, and a source of great pride to the people of Florida. I am truly honored to represent Keiser University in my Congressional district, and wish them many years of continued success.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, before beginning my remarks, I would offer condolences to the grieving families who lost loved ones in yesterday's terrorist attack in New York City, and to have the people of New York know--and I know I speak for all of us, and there will be a more appropriate recognition at a time in the future, I am sure, but to have them know that all of us grieve with them and are concerned not only for those who lost their lives, but to assist in preventing measures of this type in the future. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Washington for yielding to me the customary 30 minutes for debate. This bill is a sweeping attack on responsible forest management policy that upends key environmental safeguards, limits public participation in land management decisions, and prioritizes commercial timber harvest over transparent, science-based management. In other words, this is business as usual for this Republican majority when it comes to protecting our environment. A footnote right there, my friend from the State of Washington does highlight, rightly, concerns not only for his congressional district, but areas throughout the country that have experienced wildfires. Many of us have talked about this in conjunction with other disasters and a need for this Congress to be able to address the shortfall in funding for such important measures. During this Congress alone, my Republican friends have brought to the floor bills that undermine the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue independent and objective scientific conclusions, weaken regulations of pesticides, and repeal rulemakings aimed at effective, science-based management of public lands, just to name a few things. Repeatedly, my Republican friends ignore science and attack environmental protections all in an all-too-obvious attempt to help commercial interests over sound conservation policy. This focus not only undermines our public lands, but it also harms the health and safety of the American people. This bill continues the assault on our Nation's environmental protections, and it may be one of the most irresponsible examples yet. Under the guise of responding to the recent tragic wildfires in California and elsewhere in this Nation, this legislation attacks the National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA, which requires Federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of their actions. The bill also attacks the Endangered Species Act by requiring redundant and unnecessary reporting requirements. It blocks access to the courts and limits recovery in environmental justice cases. Just for good measure, this bill effectively overturns President Obama's administration's monument expansion. The bill does little to fix the true problem of wildfire management, namely the chronic underfunding of wildfire management. Any serious proposal must address the constant funding shortages at the U.S. Forest Service by increasing the amount of Federal funding available for wildfire suppression. A successful solution needs to provide advanced access to emergency funding. Unfortunately, today's legislation does no such thing. Yesterday, the administration offered its statement of administration policy, and, at best, it is tepid. It says, ``The administration appreciates the intent of H.R. 2936 . . . and is supportive of land management reforms like those outlined in the legislation,'' and then comes the however. ``The administration, however, has concerns about the legislation's revisions to the Stafford Act, which would force competition for funding between wildfires on Federal land and other disasters already covered by the Stafford Act, including hurricanes.'' It goes on to say, `` . . . the administration supports a separate, annual cap adjustment for wildfire suppression operations, which will resolve concerns about the sufficiency of funds for wildfire suppression and avoid unnecessary competition for Stafford Act funds.'' Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the Statement of Administration Policy. Statement Of Administration Policy H.R. 2936--Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017--Rep. Westerman R-AR, and cosponsors The Administration strongly believes that funding for wildland fire management must be addressed in order to enable the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to better manage the Nation's forests and other public lands. The Administration's second disaster funding request, submitted to Congress on October 4, 2017, underscored this belief. The request also noted the Administration's belief that land management reforms are critical to solving the problem of ``fire borrowing''--taking funds from forest management programs to cover fire costs that exceed appropriations--in a comprehensive manner, rather than through a funding-only appropriations approach. The Administration appreciates the intent of H.R. 2936, the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017, and is supportive of land management reforms like those outlined in the legislation. The Administration, however, has concerns about the legislation's revisions to the Stafford Act, which would force competition for funding between wildfires on Federal land and other disasters already covered by the Stafford Act, including hurricanes. Wildland Fire Management Funding Last year, Federal wildfire suppression spending reached $2.9 billion, an amount that signals clearly the need for Congress to address the rising cost of fire suppression operations. The dependence on ``fire borrowing'' to cover funding shortfalls in times of severe wildfire impedes the missions of our land management agencies, including by taking critical funding from programs that help reduce the risk of catastrophic fire, restore and maintain healthy functioning ecosystems, and yield timber production. The Administration, however, has concerns with re-purposing the Stafford Act to address wildfires. The purpose of the Stafford Act is to assist State, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments that become overwhelmed when responding to and recovering from natural disasters affecting their jurisdictions. H.R. 2936 would modify the Stafford Act by creating a new type of disaster declaration to address the cost of wildfire suppression on Federal land, thereby changing long-standing principles governing Federal support to SLTT governments. As we have seen in this year's historic Atlantic hurricane season, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must continue to be focused on its existing mission, and the Stafford Act's Disaster Relief Fund must remain dedicated solely to that mission. Instead of the approach outlined in H.R. 2936, the Administration supports a separate, annual cap adjustment for wildfire suppression operations, which will resolve concerns about the sufficiency of funds for wildfire suppression and avoid unnecessary competition for Stafford Act funds. Improving Forest Management The Administration appreciates H.R. 2936's recognition that fixing the funding component of fire borrowing will not, on its own, stop the worsening trend of catastrophic wildfires. Meaningful forest management reforms to strengthen our ability to restore the Nation's forests and improve their resilience to destructive wildfires must be a part of any permanent solution. H.R. 2936's provisions that expedite environmental approval for proactive forest management, including hazardous fuel reduction and post-fire timber salvage and reforestation actions, are important steps forward. The Administration supports and will continue to work with Congress on the details of the forest management reform proposals. Although the Administration has concerns with H.R. 2936's modifications to the Stafford Act, the Administration will continue working with Congress to enact a sustainable solution to ``fire borrowing'' that does not adversely affect FEMA's critical disaster relief funding and that recognizes the need for a comprehensive solution to the problem of wildfires.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the bill does little to fix the true problem of wildfire management. Any serious proposal, as I have said, must address the constant funding shortages, and that is what, among other things, the administration suggested. Mr. Speaker, this year has been a wake-up call. We must do more to respond to the natural disasters that face our Nation. After three major hurricanes and devastating wildfires in my friend from Washington's State, in California, in Montana, and even in the Everglades of Florida we have experienced some wildfires, albeit not at the magnitude of loss of life or property as existed in some of the others, our resources and agencies are stretched to the brink. Weeks after the storms, millions of people across the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are without power and without reliable access to clean drinking water. FEMA Administrator Brock Long testified just yesterday that the response to these storms and wildfires and other disasters--we have had tornadoes that have come along as well--is costing the Federal Government $200 million a day. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Office of Management and Budget is currently working to send a proposal to Congress for a third supplemental spending package to address the recovery needs in the affected areas. I urge them and my colleagues here in Congress to act swiftly to provide the resources that so many people desperately need. In the meantime, what have we gotten from Republicans? Bipartisanship? Sound science-based proposals? No. Instead, the Republican majority has ignored bipartisanship, and, yesterday, in the Rules Committee, a bipartisan measure was offered that was a thoughtful proposal on this topic, and was rejected, and presented this bill that we have here now that doesn't address the real issues facing public land and wildfire management, but, rather, guts environmental protection and overturns President Obama's monument expansion. Mr. Speaker, this is business as usual for House Republicans. But if we are going to seriously address natural disasters and how we respond to them, I encourage my friends on the other side of the aisle to put aside their partisanship, reconsider their denial of climate change and its effects on our environment, and join Democrats in working together to address this and other important issues faced by all Americans. There were two amendments that were offered yesterday by my colleagues from California. Both of those amendments were not made in order. I don't think it is right when people offer legislation, particularly those that have just been damaged, as our colleagues, Congressmen Thompson and Matsui, and others in the northern California region. They at least should have had an opportunity to offer up their amendment and have it voted against if people felt so here in this body. I would hope, in the future, we would make a correction of that kind of undertaking. I would hope all Members of this body would have an opportunity to present their ideas on any legislation, and something as important as this could have allowed for an open rule, rather than for partisan activity to reign supreme. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. If we defeat the previous question, I am going to offer an amendment to the rule to bring up H.R. 3440, the Dream Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would help thousands of young people who are Americans in every way except on paper. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I might add, attendant to this, on yesterday, my colleagues, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Carlos Curbelo, Frederica Wilson, and myself, introduced legislation calling for giving 300,000 migrants in this country, from a variety of countries, an opportunity for permanent residence--those from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham), my good friend, to speak to the issue that I just talked about, the Dream Act.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, through you, I would advise my good friend from Washington that I have no further speakers and I will be prepared to close whenever he is. Until such time, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I advise my friend that I am prepared to close. I have no additional speakers, and I will go forward with your permission. In the wake of the worst wildfires, as have been mentioned here by so many of our colleagues, that the U.S. has experienced in quite a while, House Republicans, however, have responded by bringing to the floor, really, a tired bill passed last Congress that went nowhere in the Senate, a bill that does not fix the true problem of chronically underfunding wildfire prevention but, instead, doubles down in creating an unworkable system for wildfire suppression funding, a bill that rolls back environmental protection and limits access to the courts. It is dismaying to see the response to natural disasters in this country hinge on the same thing so many other important debates do: partisanship and ignoring facts and science. Despite a year in which we have seen historic hurricanes and wildfires, my Republican colleagues have yet again resorted to continuing to push policies that repeal environmental regulations, all the while denying the effects climate change is having on our communities and our country's economy. My friend from Oregon, a moment ago--and he is my friend--spoke about the thunderstorms that we receive in Florida. In his version, it is accompanied by rain, and that is true a lot. But we, too, have droughts in Florida, and Florida is known as the lightning capital of the world. Very occasionally, particularly in central Florida and in the Everglades, those lightning strikes produce wildfires in the congressional district that I serve and many others. Our response to these events needs to improve, and it needs to happen quickly. These disasters do not recognize congressional districts. These disasters do not target one area of our country over another and do not care about Republican or Democratic partisan gamesmanship. If we are going to adequately respond to the needs of millions of American citizens in the wake of these and future storms and future wildfires, we need to be advocating for sound policies based on science. This is the only way to protect future generations. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule and the underlying legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank my friend, the gentleman from Georgia, for yielding me the customary 30 minutes for debate. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to debate the rule for consideration of H.R. 469, the Congressional Article I Powers Strengthening Act; and H.R. 732, the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act, two Judiciary bills that are deficient in both process and in substance. First, let me address the Congressional Article I Powers and Strengthening Act, a bill that my Republican friends purport will provide commonsense solutions to curbing regulatory abuse, but will, in fact, undermine the ability of Federal regulators to protect the health and safety of Americans, threaten the privacy of victims of government misconduct, and intrude on the Department of Justice's enforcement discretion, raising serious separation of powers concerns. Mr. Speaker, just as appalling as the substance of this bill is the process by which we are considering it and many other bills deriving from the Judiciary Committee lately. This bill is actually three Judiciary Committee bills wrapped in one Rules Committee print. However, one of the bills, H.R. 4070, was introduced last week without a hearing, without a markup, without notice to Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, and without consultation with constitutional lawyers and experts and interested citizens. This process is truly a slap in the face of regular order. A bill that has zero input from members on the Judiciary Committee or been the subject of any thoughtful discussion is suddenly on the House floor for a vote. Interestingly, when I listened to my friend from Georgia, who I know is particularly serious about his approaches to legislation, I sat here and then I looked into the gallery, and there were 20 people who were seated there. I didn't see on the faces of those that I could see any understanding of one thing that he said, not because of the speed of his manner of speech, but because of the complexity of issues that give rise to us. Among the things he said was transparency, accountability, and wanting to make sure that we, this body, exercise our prerogative with reference to for the people, by the people, and of the people. I would imagine that people listening to this debate would want to believe that half of this body, half of the people who are represented in this country had input to this legislation. Let me tell you, People, they had none, zero. No Democrat had any input to this measure that I just discussed. How can we expect Members of this body, let alone the American people, to have any idea as to what we are voting on with this measure and what its impact will be when it seems the path it took to getting a vote is based solely on the whim of the chairman of the Judiciary Committee? Unfortunately, there is total disregard for even a semblance of regular order. That term is utilized a lot here, and, again, the American people, many of them, don't have a clue what we are talking about. What we are talking about, basically, is matters that go to committees have hearings, have both sides have input, have witnesses who are experts or have responsibilities in that arena, and then the matter comes to the Rules Committee and is granted a bill of substance to come here to the floor, and that process is generally known by those of us with Congress-speak as regular order. It is nothing new for the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee, which has been the worst offender of regular order, when it comes to pushing for a closed process. During the 115th Congress, bills coming to the floor from the Judiciary Committee were granted the most closed rules of any of the committees in this august body, eight closed rules. There is no committee chair in this Congress who has requested the Republican- controlled Rules Committee grant more closed rules than the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Indeed, this departure from a process that we refer to as regular order, from a process that allows input from outside experts and other witnesses, a process that allows both parties, if there is a hearing, to ask questions of those witnesses, this departure is astounding, and that is within the context of this Congress, which, in just the first 10 months, will soon become the most closed Congress in history. I remember when I ran for office in 1992, I appeared a lot on radio stations. In many of those appearances, the opposition, not just my opponent, but the major party, had begun a drumbeat of the Democrats are not following regular order, they are having closed rules. Little did I know in 1992, nor did I aspire when I came here, to be on the Rules Committee to have a better understanding, but I kept listening to this closed rule argument, and many persons lost their elections because of that. If there is ever a time for us to address it, it would be now. We have that prerogative to be able to open up this process so that all Members can be involved. When this Congress began, the distinguished Speaker of this body promised an open and transparent House. He called for a return to regular order. After what we have seen over the last 10 months, I shudder to think what the distinguished Speaker considers a closed process. I might add, the next tier under closed is structured rules, which we are here today on, which, yet again, limits the number of activities by others, amendments, and other processes that would be appropriate. Yesterday, when my colleague and I were in the Rules Committee, we had before us matters that were germane to this issue that were denied, that could have, under an open process, been made in order so that we could discuss it here today. This Republican process, shutting out the voice and input of representatives of nearly half the country, is not just an affront to normal House procedure, which it is, it is downright undemocratic and emblematic of the Republican majority's true inability to govern. Mr. Speaker, I turn to the second bill encompassed in this rule, H.R. 732, a bill as misguided and substantively unnecessary as the first bill was lacking in process. In fact, in the last Congress, a law professor testifying on an identical bill described it as a solution in search of a problem. That was as true in the last Congress as it is in this one, which is too bad, because we do not lack in actual problems in desperate need of sensible solutions. H.R. 732 would prevent Federal agencies from requiring third-party payments, such as those to charities, in settlement agreements with entities accused of wrongdoing. Now, there in the report pointed out by the chairman of the Rules Committee yesterday shows the number of banks and mortgage companies and others that have violated the law and entered into settlements with the government for billions of dollars. Such payments, in excess of what the victims have agreed to, and the settlements that have been entered into and approved by judges, each one of these settlements, my friend said these payments may have gone to politically motivated--may be politically motivated organizations, and he cites to La Raza, which did receive money, but so did other charitable organizations: the New Christian Joy Full Gospel Baptist Church, the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Catholic Charities Financial and Housing Counseling. We sought yesterday while we were in the committee--I sought and asked staff to provide for me some of the organizations that my friends say may be politically motivated, or activists, as he referred to them, and it is 49 pages of organizations that were available to receive these funds, and, yes, some of them are liberal and also some of them are conservative organizations as we know them. Such payments to charities are a common enforcement tool in settlements and have long been used to help provide communities with relief from systemic harm caused by illegal behavior. Now, for example, following the 2008 financial crisis, in some of the settlement agreements with Wall Street banks, President Obama's Department of Justice required banks to donate money to charities committed to neighborhood stabilization and foreclosure prevention efforts, and this made perfect sense. In the wake of the crisis, as many as 10 million families lost their homes to foreclosure. Both the Government Accountability Office and the Federal courts have long upheld this practice in settlement agreements. Perhaps unsurprisingly, my Republican colleagues considered these provisions to be an attempt by President Obama's administration to use, as they say, ``a slush fund,'' to enrich, ``liberal friends,'' despite the fact that certified charities eligible to receive these payments encompass liberal and conservative groups alike. They even launched an investigation which yielded no credible evidence to substantiate their claims. Yet, despite the GAO, the Federal courts, and a Republican-led investigation showing no wrongdoing, we are considering this bill today to ban this longstanding legal practice aimed at assisting communities in the wake of suffering systemic abuse--abuse that I will underline again, and even say slowly, hurt Democrats and Republicans. I suppose the only question left to ask my Republican friends is, 10 months into the new administration, nearly a year after the last election, why are they continuing to conduct pointless and partisan oversight of the Obama administration? Let me see if I can make this clear. President Obama is no longer the President of the United States, nor is Bill Clinton or George Bush. The President of the United States now is a new individual who we have to deal with, and it would be helpful if we were to address some of the matters ongoing that this particular administration is deserving of oversight. I know that President Obama was a useful foil for many in the Republican Party when it came to messaging and campaigning, but he is not the President anymore. He won his two elections. That is the past. This bill represents nothing but the Republican majority grasping at straws and trying their best to turn their oversight attention away from doing their duty and providing oversight of the Trump administration. Today, two new inquiries, I don't even have the time or wouldn't take the time to go into the inquiries that ain't going nowhere, have been announced, certainly as a distraction to many of the negatives that come out by virtue of this particular Congress not having done anything. It is the do-nothing Congress on steroids. If there was ever an administration that needed rigorous oversight, it is the current one. In just 10 months, we have had reports of gratuitous use of private jets, the use of private email servers by senior staff, and I might add that one of those things identified today is they are going to go after Hillary or have oversight hearings on Hillary Clinton's emails. Enough already. Hillary Clinton lost her election, and lost with the emails as well, but we have current staff who are using private email servers. Given your history, should that not at least pique your oversight interest? Spending tens of millions of taxpayers' dollars to use Mar-a-Lago for official meetings, waste, cronyism, the list goes on and on and on. How about oversight of a little, old company in Montana that doesn't have any successful history getting a $200 million no-bid contract in Puerto Rico to reestablish those facilities there? Out of Montana, little, old company, $200 million, no-bid. You got it. You go forward. You talk about waste and cronyism. And what do we get from the Republicans? Deafening silence. Mr. Speaker, I find it ironic that we are considering the rule for a bill today entitled Article I Powers Strengthening Act when this Republican Congress has shown they can't even undertake the basic Article I duty of providing oversight of the executive. They don't need to strengthen Article I, they need to just start doing their jobs in the first place. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am ready to have my friend understand that I am getting close to closing. I don't think I have any speakers, but I do have words that I wish to put forward right now. It is shameful that we would be in a position where the DACA program is being threatened without a single thought to the consequences this decision would have on the 800,000 young lives this program protects. While this may appear to be off message with regard to the measures that are before us, the minority is given an opportunity to present what is called a previous question, and it can be on matters germane to the thoughts of the minority and can be on any subject that they choose. In this instance, we choose to, with the previous question, address DACA. Do the American people even want DACA to end? The answer is clearly no. According to a Politico/Morning Consult poll, support for allowing these immigrants to remain in the United States spans across party lines: 84 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of Independents, and 69 percent of Republicans think they should stay. Congress must act to protect our DREAMers. Mr. Speaker, here is a chance to rectify the President's decision and restore the American people's faith in this institution. If we defeat the previous question, I am going to offer an amendment to the rule to bring up H.R. 3440, the Dream Act. This bipartisan bicameral legislation would help thousands of young people who are Americans in every way except on paper. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of this amendment in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, earlier I mentioned that there were 49 pages--I didn't realize how extensive it really was--of organizations that were eligible to receive funds under the Justice Department's prerogative. It includes organizations that did, in fact, receive these funds. They come from a wide array of organizations in our respective communities that, in my judgment, have on-the-ground ability to be efficient and to make sure that the expenditure of those funds benefit those who have suffered from systemic inequities by large organizations. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a portion of these organizations that were eligible to receive funds under the Justice Department's prerogative. Agency Name Money Management International, Anchorage, AK.; Neighborworks Anchorage Formerly Anchorage Neighborhood Housing Services; Organized Community Action Programs Inc.-- Covington County; Birmingham Urban League, Inc.; Gateway Financial Freedom/CCCS of Central Alabama; Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity; Jefferson County Housing Authority; NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) Birmingham. AL; Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc.; United Way of Central Alabama, Inc.; United Way of Central Alabama, Inc.; Community Action Partnership of North Alabama--Cullman Branch; Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, Inc.; Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, Inc.; Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization (HERO); Organized Community Action Programs Inc.--Butler County; Organized Community Action Programs Inc.--Lowndes County; CCCS of Tennessee River Valley; Community Action Partnership, Huntsville/Madison & Limestone Counties. Inc.; Family Services Center, Inc. CCCS of Mobile--Jackson; Telamon Corporation; CCCS of Mobile; Center for Fair Housing; Mobile Housing Board; CCCS of Alabama--Montgomery; Legal Services Alabama Inc; CCCS of Mobile--Montrose AL; Community Action Partnership of North Alabama--Moulton Branch; Organized Community Action Programs Inc.--Dale County; Housing Authority of the City of Prichard; Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama--Franklin County; Organized Community Action Programs Inc.--Crenshaw County; Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama--Colbert County; Organized Community Action Program, Inc.; Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc.; Organized Community Action Programs Inc.--Bullock County; Credit Counseling of Arkansas--Bentonville; Mississippi County, Arkansas Economic Opportunity Commission, Inc.; Hope Enterprise Corporation. Family Service Agency--CCCS; Arkansas River Valley Area Council, Inc.; Money Management International El Dorado; Credit Counseling of Arkansas; Crawford Sebastian Community Development Council; Credit Counseling of Arkansas Fort Smith; Northwest Regional Housing Authority; Southern Bancorp Community Partners; Jonesboro Urban Renewal and Housing Authority Housing and Community Development Organization (JURHA HCDO; Arkansas Development Finance Authority; Better Community Development, Inc.; Community Resources Technicians, Inc.; Family Service Agency--CCCS; In Affordable Housing, Incorporated; NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) Little Rock, AR; Southern Bancorp Community Partners; Universal Housing Development Corporation; Credit Counseling of Arkansas--Springdale; Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization; Community Action Human Resources Agency. Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona, Inc.; Money Management International, Inc. Flagstaff, AZ; Northern Arizona Council of Governments; Administration of Resources and Choices; Money Management International, Inc. Glendale, AZ; Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG)--Kingman Branch Office; Housing Counseling and Education Services; Money Management International, Inc. Mesa, AZ; Springboard-- Mesa; Chicanos Por La Causa--Nogales; Nogales Community Development Corporation; Chicanos Por La Causa, Phoenix; City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department; Community Housing Resources of Arizona; Desert Mission Neighborhood Renewal; Greater Phoenix Urban League; Labor's Community Service Agency; Money Management International Phoenix Phone Center; Money Management International, Inc. Phoenix, AZ Central. NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) Phoenix, AZ; Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix; NID- HCA Phoenix Randolph; Take Charge America; Money Management International, Inc. Prescott, AZ; Campesinos Sin Fronteras; Comite De Bien Estar, Inc.; Credit Advisors Foundation; Money Management International, Inc. Phoenix, AZ--North; Housing America Corporation; Greenpath Debt Solutions; Money Management International, Inc. Tempe, AZ; Newtown Community Development Corporation; Administration of Resources and Choices; Catholic Community Services of So. Arizona, Inc. DBA Pio Decimo Center; Chicanos Por La Causa-Tucson; Family Housing Resources; Money Management International, Inc. Tucson, AZ--SE; Money Management, Inc. Tuscon, AZ--NW; Old Pueblo Housing Development, Inc. Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc.; Southwest Fair Housing Counsel; The Primavera Foundation, Inc.; Tucson Urban League; Northern Arizona Council of Governments; Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG); Western Arizona Council of Governments NCOA HECM; Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County; CCCS of the North Coast; CCCS of Kern and Tulare Counties; Community Housing Council of Kern Co.; Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County; Korean Resource Center; Surepath Financial Solutions; Consumer Credit Counselors of Kern and Tulare Counties; Money Management International Chula Vista; California Rural Legal Assistance--Coachella; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions--Commerce Branch; Catholic Charities of the East Bay; Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (ECHO). Money Management International Concord; National Asian American Coalition (Formerly Known as Mabuhay Alliance); California Rural Legal Assistance--Delano; Able Works; Springboard--El Cajon; California Rural Legal Assistance--El Centro; Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board--El Centro Branch (Imperial County); Community Housing Works; Pacific Community Services Fairfield; Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County; Money Management International Fremont; Project Sentinel; California Rural Legal Assistance--Fresno; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions Inc.--Fresno Branch; Community Housing Council of Fresno; Housing Authority of the City of Fresno; California Rural Legal Assistance--Gilroy; Project Sentinel; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions--Glendale Branch; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions--Granada Hills Branch. NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) Los Angeles, CA; Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (ECHO); Springboard--Hemet; Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board-- Indio Branch (Riverside County); Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency; Springboard--Ladera; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions--Lakewood Branch; California Rural Legal Assistance--Lamont; Pure Hearts R Us Housing Corporation; Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (ECHO); Tri-Valley Housing Opportunity Center; Home Preservation and Prevention (HPP Cares); Operation Hope Inc.--Long Beach Branch; Springboard--Long Beach; East La Community Corporation (ELACC); Korean Churches for Community Development; Korean Resource Center; Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc; New Economics for Women; NID-HCA Reeves; Operation Hope, Inc; Operation Hope, Inc.--La Branch; Shalom Center for T.R.E.E. of Life; Thai Community Development Corp.; Watts Century Latino Org.; West Angeles Community Development Corp.; California Rural Legal Assistance--Madera; California Rural Legal Assistance-- Marysville Office; Operation Hope, Inc.--Maywood Branch; National Asian American Coalition (Formerly Known As Mabuhay Alliance); California Rural Legal Assistance--Modesto; Community Housing and Shelter Services; Habitat for Humanity, Stanislaus County; Project Sentinel; Montebello Housing Development Corp.; California Rural Legal Assistance--Monterey; Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc.; Project Sentinel; Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity (ECHO); Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. Money Management International Oakland; NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) Oakland, CA; National Association of Real Estate Brokers--Investment Division, Inc; NID-HCA Oakland Main Branch; Operation Hope, Inc.--Oakland Branch; The Spanish Speaking Unity Council of Alameda County, Inc. (The Unity Council); Faith Based Community Development Corporation; Money Management International Oceanside; Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board; Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services, Inc.; Neighborhood Housing Services of Orange County; California Rural Legal Assistance--Oxnard; Ventura County Community Development Corporaton; Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc.; Eden Council for Hope and Opportuntiy (ECHO); California Rural Legal Assistance--Paso Robles; Pacific Community Services, Inc.; Operation Hope, Inc.--Poway Branch; Hometown Community Development Corp, Dba Homestrong USA; Housing Opportunities Collaborative--Inland Empire Branch. Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond; Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.; Community Connect; Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc.; Springboard--Shine Center (Latham); Springboard Non Profit Consumer Credit Management Inc.--HPF Affiliate; Springboard Non--Profit Consumer Credit Management, Inc.; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions--Sacramento Branch; Sacramento Home Loan Counseling Center; Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.; California Rural Legal Assistance--Salinas; Housing Resource Center of Monterey County; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions--San Bernardino Branch; Neighborhood Housing Services of The Inland Empire, Inc.; NID-HCA Inland Empire J. Jackson; Bayside Community Center; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions--San Diego Branch; Community Housing Works; Housing Opportunities Collaborative; Housing Opportunities Collaborative--Branch for San Diego/Imperial Counties; Money Management International San Diego. National Asian American Coalition (Formerly Known as Mabuhay Alliance); Navicore Solutions--San Diego, CA; Neighborhood House Association; San Diego Urban League; Union of Pan Asian Communities; Asian Incorporated; CCCS of San Francisco; Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco--HPF Affiliate; Mission Economic Development Association (MEDA); Project Sentinel; San Francisco Housing Development Corporation; Neighborhood Housing Services Silicon Valley; Project Sentinel; Santa Clara County Asian Law Alliance; Surepath Financial Solutions--San Jose; NID-HCA San Leandro--Chambers; California Rural Legal Assistance--San Luis Obispo; Peoples' Self Help Housing; Fair Housing of Marin; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions--Santa Ana Branch. Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County; Housing Opportunities Collaborative--Orange County Branch; Legal Aid Society of Orange County; Orange County Fair Housing Council, Inc.; California Rural Legal Assistance-- Santa Barbara; Project Sentinel; California Rural Legal Assistance; California Rural Legal Assistance--Santa Maria; Wise & Healthy Aging; California Rural Legal Assistance; Catholic Charities, Diocese of Santa Rosa; CCCS of San Francisco; Centro Familia Esperanza; Operation Hope Inc.-- South Gate Branch; California Rural Legal Assistance-- Stockton; Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions--Stockton Branch; NID-HCA A. Jones; Visionary Home Builders of California; Project Sentinel; Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority, United Native Housing Development Corp. City of Vacaville Department of Housing Services; Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation; Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board--Victorville Branch (San Bernardino County); CCCS of Kern and Tulare Counties; Community Services and Employment Training, Inc. (CSET); Self Help Enterprises; California Rural Legal Assistance--Oceanside; Surepath Financial Solutions--Watsonville; Rural Community Assistance Corporation; Community Resource and Housing Development Corporation--Alamosa; City of Aurora Community Development Division; Boulder County Housing Authority; Greenpath, Inc.; Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments; CCCS of Greater Dallas--Colorado Springs; Adams County Housing Authority; Colorado Housing and Finance Authority; Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation; Del Norte Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC); Denver Housing Authority. Greenpath, Inc.; Money Management International Denver, Aurora Branch; NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) Denver, CO; NEWSED CDC; Northeast Denver Housing Center; Southwest Improvement Council; Housing Solutions for the Southwest; Regional Housing Alliance La Plata Homes Fund; Brothers Redevelopment, Inc.; Greenpath Debt Solutions; Neighbor to Neighbor; Northeast Colorado Housing, Inc.; Tri- County Housing & Community Development Corporation; Neighbor to Neighbor; Grand Junction Housing Authority; Greenpath Debt Solutions; Money Management International Highlands Ranch; Douglas County Housing Partnership; Boulder County Housing Authority; Neighbor to Neighbor. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pueblo, CO; Neighborworks of Pueblo; Summit County Family Resource Center; San Miguel Regional Housing Authority; Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation; Money Management International Westminster; Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust; Housing Development Fund, Inc.--Bridgeport Branch; Housing Development Fund--Danbury Branch; Financial Counselors of America Connecticut Branch; Money Management International East Hartford; Community Renewal Team, Inc.; Hartford Areas Rally Together; Housing Education Resource Center; Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford, Inc.; NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) Hartford, CT; Urban League of Greater Hartford, Inc.; Money Management International Milford; Neighborhood Housing Services of New Britain, Inc.; Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund. Mutual Housing of South Central CT, Inc.//Neighborworks New Horizons; Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven; Catholic Charities, Norwich, CT; Connecticut Housing Finance Authority; Housing Development Fund, Inc.; Urban League of Southern Connecticut; Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury, Inc.; National Council on Aging (NCOA); Asian American Homeownership Counseling; Carecen--Central American Resource Center; Greater Washington Urban League; Homefree-- USA Washington DC Branch; Housing Counseling Services, Incorporated; Latino Economic Development Corporation; Lydia's House; Manna, Inc. Marshall Heights Community Development Organization; NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) Washington, DC; National Capacd; National Community Reinvestment Coalition. National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Inc.; National Council of La Raza; National Foundation for Credit Counseling, Inc.; Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. DBA Neighborworks America; NID-HCA Williams; Operation Hope, Inc.--DC Branch; United Planning Organization; United Planning Organization--Anacostia Center; United Planning Organization--Petey Greene Community Svc. Center; United Planning Organization Shaw Community Svc. Center; University Legal Services; University Legal Services; CCCS of Maryland and Delaware; Delaware State Housing Authority; First State Community Action Agency, Inc.; National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research Fund, Inc. (NCALL Research, Inc.); First State Community Action Agency, Inc; National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research Fund, Inc. (NCALL, Research, Inc.); Hockessin Community Center; First State Community Action Agency, Inc. National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research Fund, Inc. (NCALL Research, Inc.); YWCA Delaware; Telamon Corporation; CCCS of Delaware Valley, DBA Clarifi; CCCS of Delaware Valley, Inc. DBA Clarifi; CCCS of Maryland and Delaware; Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council; Housing Opportunities of Northern Delaware, Inc.; Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware; Neighborhood House, Incorporated; West End Neighborhood House; Homes in Partnership, Inc.; We Help Community Development Corporation; Florida Cooperative Extension--Holmes County Cooperative Extension Service (Terminated); Boynton Beach Faith Based CDC; Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc.; Manatee Community Action Agency, Inc. F/K/A Manatee Opportunity Council, Incorporated; Florida Cooperative Extension Levy County Cooperative Extension Service; Florida Cooperative Extension--Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service; All-American Foreclosure Solutions, Inc. Cape Coral Housing Development Corporation; Florida Cooperative Extension--Washington County Cooperative Extension Service (Terminated); Bright Community Trust, Inc.; Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.; Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling, DBA National Foundation for Debt Management; Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling, DBA National Foundation for Debt Management; Housing Services of Central Florida; Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation; Homes in Partnership, Incorporated; Credit Card Mgmt Svcs, Inc. D/B/A Debthelper.Com; Florida Cooperative Extension-- Brevard County Cooperative Extension Service; Florida Cooperative Extension--Brevard County Cooperative Extension Service (Duplicate); CCCS of West FL; Florida Cooperative Extension Dixie County Cooperative Extension Service; Florida Cooperative Extension--Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service (Terminated); Adopt A Hurricane Family, Inc. DBA Crisis Housing Solutions; Apprisen--CCCS--Davie; Florida Cooperative Extension--Broward County Cooperative Extension; Central Florida Community Development Corporation; Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. Mid-Florida Housing Partnership, Inc.; Florida Cooperative Extension--Walton County Cooperative Extension Service; Florida Cooperative Extension--Volusia County Cooperative Extension Service; H.E.L.P. Community Development Corp.; Affordable Housing by Lake, Inc; Centro Campesino, Farmworkers Center, Inc.; New Visions Community Development Corporation; Urban League of Broward County Main Office; Urban League of Broward County (Branch Office); Affordable Homeownership Foundation Inc; Home Ownership Resource Center of Lee County; Housing Authority of the City of Ft. Myers; Lee County Housing Development Corporation; CCCS of West FL; City of Gainesville Housing Division; Florida Cooperative Extension; Florida Cooperative Extension-- Alachua County Cooperative Extension Service; Florida Cooperative Extension--Alachua County Cooperative Extension Service (Duplicate); Neighborhood Housing & Development Corporation; CCCS of the Midwest. Community Housing Partners Corporation; Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc.--Inverness Office; Black Bottom/Springfield Human Development Corporation, DBA St. Joseph Homeownership; Community Home Ownership Center, Inc. F/K/A Jacksonville FL Chapter Assoc. of Housing Counselors & Agencies CDC; Family Foundations of Northeast Florida, Inc.; Florida Cooperative Extension--Duval County Cooperative Extension Service; Greenpath, Inc.; Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, Inc.; Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.; Jacksonville Urban League; NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) Jacksonville, FL; Operation New Hope CDC; Wealth Watcher, Inc; Community Legal Services of Mid- Florida, Inc.--Kissimmee Office; Florida Cooperative Extension--Osceola County Cooperative Extension Service; The Agriculture and Labor Program, Inc.; Florida Cooperative Extension--Columbia County Extension Service; Springboard-- Lake Mary; Catholic Charities of Central Florida; Keystone Challenge Fund, Inc. Florida Cooperative Extension--Pinellas County Cooperative Extension Service; Broward County Housing Authority; Florida Cooperative Extension--Citrus County Cooperative Extension Service; Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp; Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp; Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp.; Florida Cooperative Extension--Suwannee County Cooperative Extension Service; Greenpath Debt Solutions; Florida Cooperative Extension--Baker County Cooperative Extension Service (Duplicate); Florida Cooperative Extension--Baker County Cooperative Extension Service (Terminated); Florida Cooperative Extension--Madison County Cooperative Extension Service (Terminated); Community Housing Initiative, Inc; Cuban American National Council, Inc.--Miami; Little Haiti Housing Association, Inc.; Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida; Real Estate, Education and Community Housing, Inc.; SER Jobs for Progress; Miami Beach Community Development Corp; NID-HCA Florida Felton; Housing Development Corporation of SW Florida, Inc.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I do want to acknowledge that my friend from Georgia does have a companion bill in the other body. I believe it is S. 333. I would--like I will when the Georgia-Florida game comes up--make a wager with my friend that that bill ain't going nowhere. But, anyway, we are here talking about it, so my wager with the gentleman will be under appropriate measures. I wish he and I could go to Jacksonville together at what they say is the greatest cocktail party in the world. Mr. Speaker, I just mentioned that at least one of the bills wrapped up in today's, in my view, nonsense, ought to continue to be described as a solution in search of a problem. I am not fully convinced that the observation is not an apt one for the whole lot of bills before us today. As I just mentioned, this is particularly disturbing as this country has real problems which need real solutions. The Children's Health Insurance Program has expired, and there seems to be little to no will on the other side of the aisle to right this wrong at this time. Sure, we hear possibilities of a solution. When I came back this week, I thought that we would certainly address it. September 30 was when it expired. Yet we and, more importantly, millions of children and organizations wait for an answer. We know that we are fast approaching a government shutdown, but instead we come to the floor week after week forced to debate ridiculous bills that, in substance, are well-thought-out by the persons presenting them, but, in reality, are not going to become law and are nothing more than talking points of the day, when these things that we should be addressing are going unmet. We need to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, yet the answer to this issue evades my friends across the aisle. We need to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, yet we wait. We need to address the crippling epidemic that is gun violence in this country. We need to remember that not even a month ago, this man out in Las Vegas took aim from the 32nd floor of a hotel and rained terror down upon thousands of innocent people enjoying a music festival. The weapons of war he used that night are just as readily available today as the day he bought them. Finally, I understand people may want to forget the following, but we cannot, and I will not let you forget that there are millions of people across the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and there are thousands in Florida and in Texas who are still awaiting visits from FEMA. On the plane up yesterday, I was reading a 3-page-long article addressing, right in my community, the fact that people are sitting waiting for FEMA's response. I continue to raise at the same time that these hurricanes in Texas, southwest Louisiana, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico have occurred, forest fires in California and Montana and Oregon have occurred, and we haven't addressed drought in other areas that occurred. Just last week, tornadoes occurred in Oklahoma. We have these disasters occurring. I heard my colleague earlier today during morning hour make a presentation regarding a main burst in Detroit, Michigan, and that they don't have in her area sufficient drinking water. We know that the Flint, Michigan, matter isn't resolved. This past weekend, I busted a tire on a bumpy-hole road, and we need to fix our roads in this country. This Capital ought to be called the ``Pothole of the World.'' Yet we stand here day after day discussing things that are going nowhere when people in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are craving electricity, opening schools with no electricity, moving people from hospitals. We need safe drinking water all over this country. They need for us to show compassion and at least some decency with reference to humanity with those concerns. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule and the underlying legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Geneva Green Russell of Boynton Beach, Florida, who passed away at the age of 100 on May 6, 2017. Georgia-born and Florida educated, Mother Russell received her primary education in Delray Beach public schools. Mother Russell spiritual life began at the young age of twelve. She was one of the charter members of the then, newly established Church of God in Boynton Beach and served over the years in numerous capacities, including church secretary, musician, and the Women's Ministries President. On June 21, 1936, Mother Russell married Bishop Milton Russell of Abacoa, Bahamas, and alongside him ministered to the needs of her church, family, and community. She was also a passionate philanthropist, serving as past president of the Parent Teacher Association and distinct member of the Senior Citizens Community Help Club. During this time, she provided medical transportation for sick and elderly citizens and amongst her friends and neighbors, became the ``Designated Driver'' for her group known as the ``Golden Girls.'' Mother Russell led her family by example as a strong Christian loving mother, and endlessly server of her community. Fond memories of her will forever remain with her seven children: Milton Jr., Jean, Joyce, Marjorie, Bernard, Evelyn and Stanley; fifteen grandchildren, twenty- one great-grandchildren, and twelve great-great-grandchildren, along with many relatives and friends. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Geneva Green Russell will be remembered by the many people she touched in her 100 years of life. She was truly a shining star of the Boynton Beach community. I am so pleased to honor her life and legacy. She will be dearly missed.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous sadness that I rise today to honor the life and contributions of Diane Glasser. Diane was a former Vice Mayor of the City of Tamarac, a dear personal friend, a constituent, and an activist who contributed greatly to the growth of Democratic politics in Broward County and Florida. She passed away on October 10, 2017 at the age of 89, and is survived by her son Craig Glasser of Sunrise, Florida. Originally from Mill Basin in Brooklyn, New York, Diane and her husband moved to the City of Tamarac in 1973. She worked in the construction industry for twelve years. In 2004, Diane was appointed First Vice Chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party. She was then elected to the Tamarac City Commission in 2008, where she served until her retirement in 2016. She also served on various Boards in Broward County, including the Broward School Board Senior Advisory Task Force and the Broward Human Rights Board. Diane was an Elected Florida Delegate in the last six Democratic National Conventions, and cast her vote in the Electoral College for the State of Florida in 1996 for Former President Bill Clinton and in 2000 for Former Vice President Al Gore. Mr. Speaker, Diane was a very special woman who profoundly impacted our community. Her spirit and loving memory will always live on. She will be dearly missed.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, I mistakenly voted NAY on Roll Call Vote 550 for S. 782--To reauthorize the National Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce Program, and for other purposes. I intended to vote YEA on the measure.