Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS

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

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

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my request for a recorded vote on amendment No. 97 printed in part B of House Report 115-295 to the end that the Chair put the question de novo.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my request for a recorded vote on amendment No. 98 printed in part B of House Report 115-295 to the end that the Chair put the question de novo.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mrs. Emma L. Kern Black on the occasion of her 80th birthday, which was celebrated on January 8, 2017. Emma was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi to Mr. Jimmy and Manella Kern in 1937. Graduating as valedictorian of her high school in 1955, Emma went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State College and receive her Master of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1965. During her time in college, Emma became a member of organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Sunday School Organization and the Who's Who in Colleges and Universities. With a love for education, Emma began her career as a third grade teacher at Oak Park Elementary School in Laurel, Mississippi in 1959 until 1964. Emma went on to serve in the Broward County Public School System as a primary early childhood education specialist until her retirement in 1995. During her career, Emma collaborated and led multiple educational projects and served on student and teacher evaluation teams representing the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. Emma additionally was an adjunct professor at Nova University of Broward County. As an active member of First Baptist Church Piney Grove in Fort Lauderdale, Emma served as organizer, musician and director of the Junior Choir for 26 years and Sunday School teacher and musician for over 40 years. This dedication and devotion resulted in her being recognized with the ``Women in Religion'' award by the Broward County Chapter of Charmettes, Inc. in 2002. Emma's community activities involve: The Lakeside Homeowners Association; the Board of Adjustment for the City of Oakland; Rock Island Elementary School Improvement Team; the Broward County School Readiness Coalition; the Cradle Nursey Boards of Director; the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); the Urban League of Broward County; as well as being a Golden Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Alumni Chapter of Fort Lauderdale; a member of the Jackson State University Alumni Association; and Broward County Retired Teachers Association. After more than 40 years of public service, Emma enjoys traveling domestically and internationally with her husband Dr. Malcolm Black, whom she met the first night of college at a freshmen gathering on campus. Mr. Speaker, I have had the great privilege of knowing Mrs. Emma Kern Black for many years. I am so happy to be able to honor her on the occasion of her 80th birthday, and wish her many more years of happiness and success.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Donald Richard Wilson, who sadly died on July 25, 2017 at the age of 77. Mr. Wilson, as he was affectionately known by so many, was born on April 22, 1940 to William (Gus) and Annie Mae Wilson. He remained a lifelong resident of Palm Beach County. During his youth, he, along with his two brothers was raised with strict Christian discipline by their mother, Annie Mae Wilson. She worked tirelessly to insure that the boys would receive the best possible education and upbringing she could provide. A product of the Palm Beach County Public School System, Donald graduated in 1958 from Roosevelt High School, going on to Bethune Cookman, and Florida A&M Universities. After college, he returned home with a degree in elementary education and Gloria, his wife, who was the love of his life for fifty-three years. Baptized at an early age in St. Paul AME Church, Donald remained a member in good standing throughout his life. He sang in the choir and chaired the Cultural and Artistic Committee and the Steward Board. Donald retired from the Palm Beach County School District in 1996, having served for 35 years as a teacher and administrator. For 22 years, he officiated in children's football and basketball games. A man who truly loved his city, he served on Riviera Beach's City Council for six years. Donald Wilson was significantly involved in getting the first black firefighters hired in Riviera Beach. He helped produce many Afro Arts festivals and fathered the Riviera Beach Jazz & Blues Festival. Donald was principally involved in awarding over 2,500 athletic scholarships, 2,000 academic scholarships and 750 personal need scholarships to black students, during his 51-year tenure as Vice President of the Youth Recreation Association of Riviera Beach. Mr. Speaker, Donald Wilson was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend to so many. He was a highly respected member of his community. Donald left behind a great legacy to which everyone who knew him will always point as a life well lived. I was proud to call him my friend, and will dearly miss him.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney) for yielding me the customary 30 minutes for debate, and I rise to debate the rule for H.R. 3180, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. I was somewhat dismayed earlier this week when my friends across the aisle attempted to jam today's bill through this body by jettisoning regular order and bringing the bill up under suspension. Luckily, we can add this shortsighted attempt at governing to their long list of legislative failures. And although I may be pleased that their suspension shenanigans failed, my frustration was born anew when we were informed that the bill would come to the floor under yet another closed rule. This is all bad enough, and I will come back to it in a moment, but first we need to discuss the blanket martial law provision that my friends on the other side put into this rule. This move, especially when considered in the context of those mentioned above, truly elevated poor governing to an art form. I want the American people, Republican and Democrat and Independents alike, to be crystal clear on what is happening here today. By putting a blanket martial law provision into this rule, my friends across the aisle were trying to make it as easy as possible for them to pass a healthcare bill that they had never seen. The bill would have surely ripped healthcare away from millions of Americans and unceremoniously upended one-sixth of our economy. Thankfully, Senators Collins, Murkowski, and McCain, and tens of thousands of regular Americans-turned-activists ensured that this effort failed. Since day one, the approach of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle on healthcare or, for that matter, any number of other important issues has been horrendous. It has been rushed; it has been secretive; it has been chaotic; and it has been inspired by the desire for a cheap win rather than the desire to make our healthcare system stronger and more widely available to all Americans. Truly, whether it is healthcare, veterans, or the authorization of funding for something as important as our intelligence community, the approach leaves some of us bewildered, dismayed, and gravely concerned for the well-being of our country. Indeed, when discussing something as important as the authorization for funding for the intelligence community, we ought to proceed in a manner that allows all Members of this body the opportunity to weigh in with their concerns. This closed process does a disservice not only to those of us who do not sit on the committee of jurisdiction, but also the intelligence community and the American people. As an example, when I did sit on this committee, I was vice chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and I worked diligently to ensure that minorities were given equal opportunity to break into the upper ranks of the intelligence community. Since leaving that committee, I have continued this important work and introduced an amendment to a previous iteration of the underlying bill that called for the Director of National Intelligence to put forth a plan that would encourage diversity hires throughout the intelligence community. Frustratingly, I am stripped of such an opportunity today because of the Republican leadership's unyielding devotion to perpetuating a closed process. Additionally, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), my friend, has also offered amendments to the underlying bill in the past that call for an increase in the recruitment and training of minorities as officers and employees of the Central Intelligence Agency. She, like the majority of our colleagues, will not be afforded a similar opportunity this time around. This is troublesome because diversity is a mission imperative for the intelligence community. Not only do we need to see minorities have more opportunities to climb the ranks, but we also need to recruit Americans who will be able to blend in, speak foreign languages, and understand the cultures in countries that are now central to our foreign policy interests. At the end of the day, such diversity is achieved through the hiring process, and, therefore, we need to ensure that we are hiring Arab Americans, Iranian Americans, Pakistani Americans, Chinese Americans, Korean Americans, women, gays, and many other Americans from diverse backgrounds as we confront a myriad of threats and work harder to better understand our adversaries, wherever they may lurk. We do not seek this diversity in the name of political correctness but, rather, in the name of national security. As I have said before, if the intelligence community is to succeed in its global mission, it must have a global face. I have no doubt that scores of Members would like to have offered amendments addressing the issues I have just mentioned as well as many other issues that are of particular concern to them and their constituents. Unfortunately, under this rule, they will not be afforded such an opportunity today. Those who work in the intelligence community serve our country faithfully and bravely, knowing that they will never receive the public recognition they so richly deserve. In fact, they have served and continue to serve knowing that not only will they not receive well- earned accolades, but that they will, upon occasion, have to endure unfounded and offensive statements from this administration. These statements began before the current administration even moved in down Pennsylvania Avenue. I quote the following from the administration's, President's, Twitter account: ``Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to `leak' into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in Nazi Germany?'' I find that shameful and absolutely unfounded in making such a statement. Comparing these brave and patriotic Americans to Nazis? You really have to be kidding me. As a former member of HPSCI, I will not sit idly by while anyone maligns the honorable work these proud Americans do day in and day out to protect our country. But it seems that, with this closed process and their continued support of President Donald John Trump, even as he slowly erodes the foundation of our democracy one tweet at a time, is exactly what my friends and the Republican Congress are doing. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The brazen and reckless manner in which this bill was first brought to the floor is evidence that my friends across the aisle have still not figured out how to govern. The learning curve may be steep, but it is not that steep. Quite simply, my friends, it is time for you to start governing responsibly, not with closed rules and martial law, without hearings, and without CBO scores, but through regular order, with an opportunity for all Members and, through them, their constituents to take part in legislating. The White House may be in chaos, but that is no reason for the House to legislate in a similar manner. For the good of the country, we must return to regular order. We must work to ensure that those serving in the intelligence community are able to do their best work, to do it as safely as possible, and to do it knowing that they will receive the respect they deserve from all branches of their government. I worry that they, increasingly, do not receive this respect, and that this disrespect, should it continue, will make it more difficult for us to retain and recruit the talent we so desperately need to protect our national security. Of course, the intelligence community is only one part of our national security apparatus. The men and women in our military are an equally important part of maintaining our national security. And, unfortunately, we learned just yesterday that these brave servicemembers are not immune from baseless attacks from the administration. It was announced, on the 69th anniversary of President Truman's issuing an executive order that desegregated the Armed Forces, that transgender servicemembers would no longer be able to serve in the military. Were these individuals, numbering between 10,000 and 15,000, banned because they are not brave, because they are not patriotic, because they are incapable of meeting the rigorous requirements of being in the military? No, they have been banned because bigotry defeated decency yesterday, and they have been banned because of who they are. As I mentioned the other evening, I had three uncles who were in the Army. They served proudly. They served bravely. They served in a segregated Army. Two of them received purple hearts. It was a great offense that they had to serve in a segregated Army in which they were made to feel that somehow their bravery, their patriotism, and their devotion to their brothers in arms was somehow less because of the color of their skin. President Truman knew this was wrong, and he ended it. Simply put, President Truman knew then what our current President is incapable of understanding today: the strength of our military is not found in the race or the religion or the creed or the sex or the gender identity of its servicemembers, but rather in the bravery and honor exhibited by these individuals on a daily basis. They, like all of us here today, are proud citizens of this country. They, like all of us here today, are God's children. I thank them for their service to our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Sam Otis Smith, on the occasion of his 85th birthday, which will be celebrated on July 25, 2017. Sam is an outstanding individual and I am truly blessed to be able to count him among one of my dearest friends. Sam was born July 25, 1932 in Charles City County, Virginia. He graduated in 1955 with a B.A. in Agriculture from Virginia State College and was Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. During the course of his career he was awarded three Army Commendation Medals; two Bronze Star Medals; and the Legion of Merit Medal. After 20 years of service to his country, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1975. That year, Sam began his tenure as the Director of the Physical Plant at Virginia State University, until his retirement in 1989. Sam spent the latter years of his career as a Realtor. The tenth of eleven children born to Elizabeth Bassett Smith and Charles Smith, Sam has always been devoted to his family and friends. He remains an active member of numerous professional, charitable, and sport organizations. Mr. Speaker, I have had the great privilege of knowing Sam for many years, and it gives me great pride to honor him on the occasion of his 85th birthday. I wish him many more years of happiness and success.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Lori Ann Glasser, whom we sadly lost on July 18, 2017. Lori was a constituent and friend of mine, and I will miss her dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends in this undoubtedly difficult time. Lori contributed greatly to the growth of Democratic politics in Florida, specifically in Broward County. She was the president of the Sunrise Regular Democratic Club, and the past president of the Council of Democratic Club Presidents for Broward County. She held that position for 5 years, becoming the longest serving president in that organization's history. She was also the past president of the Gold Coast Women's Democratic Club of Broward County, and the Broward Democratic Party Area Leader for Sunrise, Plantation, North Lauderdale, and Tamarac. She was an elected Florida Delegate representing the 20th and 23rd Congressional Districts at every Democratic National Convention from 1992 to 2008, and proudly served on numerous boards and committees both political and civil. Lori's contributions to our community will be remembered for years to come. She is survived by her husband, Craig Glasser of Sunrise, Florida, and her son. May their faith bring comfort to them in their time of grief, and know that Lori's spirit and loving memory will always live on.

Mr. HASTINGS

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

Mr. HASTINGS

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

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a House Resolution disapproving of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO's) World Heritage Committee Inscription of the ancient city of Hebron as a Palestinian World Heritage Site in Danger. A UNESCO resolution inscribing Hebron was approved at the end of last week, and is the latest in a regrettable trend at the United Nations (UN). Truly, it seems as if every time I turn around the UN or one of its agencies is pursuing a radical anti- Israel agenda. In recognizing Hebron as a Palestinian World Heritage Site, UNESCO has once again attempted to rewrite Jewish history out of world history. In the past year, the UN has adopted resolutions that have omitted Jewish identity from the Temple Mount, named for the location of the Jewish Temple two thousand years ago, and also chastised Israel for planting `fake Jewish graves' in the vicinity. This is ridiculous and bordering on anti-Semitism. The resolution on Hebron is no different. At the center of Ancient Hebron lays the Cave of the Patriarchs, a shrine that is holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and recognized as the burial place of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the Jewish people, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, and Leah. It is the second most holy site in Judaism, behind only the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, where the ancient Jewish Temple stood more than two thousand years ago. The Cave of the Patriarchs sits within a compound constructed by Herod, an ancient King of Judea during the Second Temple Period, when it served as a place for Jewish prayers at the grave sites of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs of Judaism. When the city of Hebron was conquered 700 years ago by the Mamluks, the compound was converted into a mosque and Jews were prohibited from entering. Thus was the case for nearly 700 years, until the city of Hebron was liberated by Israeli forces during the Six-Day War in 1967 and re-established as a place where all religions could worship. This history is important, Mr. Speaker, because UNESCO's World Heritage Committee does not appear to care about it. But I do. We do. All of us in this body understand the importance of world heritage. The UN does itself a great disservice when it allows these revisionist measures to move forward. Even as wars and humanitarian disasters rage across the globe, the UN remains relentless in its anti-Israel agenda. I therefore felt it necessary to introduce this resolution today disapproving of UNESCO's inscription of Hebron and its Cave of the Patriarchs as a Palestinian World Heritage Site in Danger, and calling on this body to reject any anti-Israel measure that may follow. I ask that it be given immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Korea Caucus, I am honored to rIse today to welcome President Moon Jae-In of the Republic of Korea on his first official visit to the United States. The Republic of Korea and the United States have been not only allies, but close friends, for nearly 70 years. This alliance and friendship was solidified in our 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Republic of Korea, and it is this commitment which binds us together today as we confront the threat posed by a nuclear and ever bellicose North Korea. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing my work with my Korean friends as we work to make the peninsula, and broader region, safe and prosperous for all people dedicated to the rule of law and a democratic way of life. I wish President Moon a safe and productive visit to the United States.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Republic of Kazakhstan on hosting the much anticipated EXPO 2017, and to congratulate them on the 20th anniversary of the founding of the capital city Astana, where the Expo is being held. The theme for EXPO 2017 is ``Future Energy,'' which is particularly fitting for Kazakhstan as the country has become a leader in renewable energy in Central Asia. Kazakhstan's efforts with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the 1990's, as well as their ratification of the more recent Kyoto Protocol extension, clearly exhibit their commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and slowing global warming. Domestically, Kazakhstan continues to construct hydropower plants, providing jobs to local communities while meeting the increasing demands for energy in Eurasia. Additionally, the Kyzylorda and Aral regions have been proposed for the installation of solar power plants and solar stills in rivers to better provide clean drinking water to those areas in need of this life sustaining resource. Finally, Kazakhstan has provided robust funding for research dedicated to the advancement of wind energy efficiency. I would like to also note the great work of our Kazakh friends in building Astana into one of the most industrialized cities in Central Asia over the past 20 years. This diligent work has resulted in Astana exhibiting remarkable growth in investment, industrial output, and small business development since its designation as capital in 1997. In addition, Astana's education and healthcare systems serve as a model for the programs of fellow recovering post-Soviet nations. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing to pursue a strong U.S.- Kazakh relationship as we work together to bring peace and security to Central Asia, and as we work together to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and invest in renewable energy.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bipartisan resolution urging China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, India, and all nations to outlaw the dog and cat meat trade and to enforce existing laws against the trade. It might surprise you to learn that an estimated 30,000,000 dogs and a great number of cats die annually across Asia for the dog and cat meat trade. This resolution would urge nations that have a dog and cat meat trade to adopt and enforce anti-cruelty laws, urge those nations to increase efforts to prevent leather and fur by-products from entering international markets, and encourage those nations to enforce their food safety laws to crack down on the sale of dog and cat meat. It is my sincere hope that this resolution will send a strong message to countries where the dog and cat meat trade still exist, and continue the animal protection movement that is already rapidly growing across Asia. Mr. Speaker, I hope this body will expeditiously pass this measure. Doing so will reaffirm America's commitment to the humane treatment of our most beloved companions.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Oklahoma for yielding to me the customary 30 minutes for debate. This measure is a bipartisan bill that will help Americans receiving support from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families find good- paying jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 6 million job openings in our country. That is the highest level recorded since we started tracking this data, yet the share of Americans participating in the workforce is at a four-decade low. Clearly, there are underlying issues that need to be addressed to get more people plugged into the workforce. For people looking for jobs, TANF serves as a lifeline. TANF is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and is designed to help in-need families achieve self-sufficiency. Under the program, States receive block grants to design and operate their own programs to fulfill the goals of the TANF program. It is important to note that States are at risk of financial penalty if TANF participants receive more than a year of education or if States have more than 30 percent of the State TANF caseload in education and training programs. Due to these limits, States have largely abandoned efforts to promote or support work in their TANF programs. This is important to understand because one of the most effective ways to get more people employed is through employer-driven on-the-job training. Research has shown that, properly structured, these programs result in better and more stable employment, especially for individuals who are otherwise unlikely to find work. Although the measure we are debating today does not address this issue, this bill will help tip the scale back toward job-training programs. H.R. 2842 establishes demonstration projects that combine work, training, and support for hard-to-employ TANF recipients. This bill provides a onetime appropriation of $100 million to subsidize these programs. After the 12-month period, States are going to be required to report to Congress on the effectiveness of subsidizing wages in moving individuals receiving TANF into full-time jobs. Since we are talking about jobs, we need to recognize that we as an institution have not provided the necessary resources to get people back to work. If you were to ask any Member of this body to outline his or her top priorities, I guarantee you that job creation would be mentioned every single time. We all agree on the need, but from there, the conversation stops. There are lots of proposals in Congress to create jobs, but we have been unable to pass a large-scale, bipartisan bill for quite some time. This really needs to change. Given the legislation we are debating today, it is interesting to me that President Donald John Trump's budget proposal cut workforce training programs by 39 percent. Rather than present a jobs bill, he has presented a plan that would actually stop helping people looking for jobs. That, in my judgment, is penny-wise and pound-foolish. In bringing forward this legislation, I think it is being made clear that this body does not share that approach, but we need to do more than a single, targeted bill. Five months into the Trump administration, Republican leadership still has not put forward a single large-scale piece of legislation to create good-paying jobs or raise the wages of hardworking Americans, but its leadership has rejected Democratic proposals out of hand. We should be working every day on creating jobs and raising wages for everyone everywhere in America. But instead of focusing on job creation, Donald John Trump's budget request would destroy approximately 1.4 million jobs. His budget would eviscerate billions of dollars from critical job- creating investments in infrastructure and innovation, dismantle skills training programs like the one we are discussing here today, ransack education benefits, and leave our country in a weakened state. Instead of bringing jobs back to communities that have fallen on hard times, the budget walks away from them. So, Mr. Speaker, I will leave it at this. The underlying measure we are debating today is a good step forward. But one step is not nearly enough. We need to do more, not less, to strengthen our communities and help working families. Just as I urge Donald John Trump to move past the campaign rhetoric and get serious, I also urge this body to lead with more bipartisan measures that will provide for necessary resources for those who need them most. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene), who is a distinguished member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. President Donald John Trump campaigned on the promise of job creation; however, his budget paints a very different picture. It cuts job training programs by 39 percent, and its radical spending cuts would lead to massive job losses. In this body, we talk a lot about jobs, but we are 6 months into this Congress and have failed to pass any major job creation bills. While the bipartisan legislation before us today is, indeed, as my good friend points out, a step in the right direction, we can and we must do more. Well, Mr. Speaker, I am happy to say that I have an amendment in my hand that will generate thousands of American jobs. If we defeat the previous question, I am going to offer an amendment to the rule to bring up Representative DeFazio's bipartisan bill, H.R. 2510, the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act. This bill will create thousands of new American jobs through increased investment in our Nation's wastewater infrastructure. Here is a chance to take today's momentum a step further and consider Mr. DeFazio's bill in addition to the bipartisan TANF bill. 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 yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), my very good friend, the distinguished ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who will discuss our proposal.

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

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I first want to address my good friend about the previous question and the fact that it has not gone through the process. I will just remind him that the chatter in Washington today is about a healthcare measure that hasn't gone through the process, at least to the extent that most of us would all want. I also have great respect for my good friend from Oklahoma, and I know he will see and get a chance to talk with President Donald John Trump. I am not likely to. But I would ask him to tell him when he sees him for me that I came here in 1993, and there were 14,000 bridges in need of repair in America, and last year the statistics from the society that does that analysis showed that there are 54,000 bridges in need of repair in this country. The point that I wish to make is that we need a serious substantial infrastructure measure. Mr. Speaker, we talk a lot about jobs in this Chamber. I was at a forum on Saturday, and someone mentioned: My governor's mantra is ``jobs, jobs, jobs.'' And that person said: Well, he must mean that you have to have three jobs in order to get by. I am glad that we are here today considering a bill that will help Americans in search of work to find a good-paying position that will help them support themselves and their families. We have a lot of issues facing us, and this bipartisan legislation is just one tiny step forward in the right direction. I hope this measure translates into more bipartisan bills. Too often, from healthcare reform, tax reform--footnote right there. My friend mentions that we will likely see a tax reform measure sometime soon. I hope that it doesn't revert to trickle down. We have seen trickle down. It did not work, and I hope we don't do that again. We have an opportunity on other issues, and in many respects the majority has shut out the minority from the process, just like what has happened until today, at least, in the other body with reference to healthcare. The bills we have debated and even passed are projected to eliminate millions of jobs. Even as we talk about job creation, my friends across the aisle too frequently turn around and champion measures that would do just the opposite. There is so much room for cooperation in this area, yet time and time again we are kept out of the process, and the results speak for themselves. For the sake of our country, this needs to change. Even though this is a bipartisan bill, it also serves as an example of what I mean. I was disappointed that my Republican colleagues in the Rules Committee blocked yesterday six germane amendments to this bill. It is a sympton of the closed process. When we prevent germane amendments from even being debated by the House, it does us all a disservice, yet my friends across the aisle do it again and again. Mr. Speaker, I will close with this: President Obama is credited for creating 11.3 million jobs in our country. The economy added jobs for 75 straight months, and very fortunately that carryover for the last 5 months has continued. While President Donald John Trump makes untenable pledge after pledge, I watched every word of his speech last night in Iowa, and all I heard was platitudes. I didn't hear anything about substance. And it seemed like a road test for some new ideas. He makes these untenable pledges, including a very humble promise to be--and I quote him--``the greatest jobs producer that God ever created.'' The record is clear, the Democratic Party is, has been, and will be the party of job creation, and is ready to work with my Republican colleagues to continue significant job creation in this country. So I will ask my friends across the aisle, let us continue the trend of the past few years and work together to produce bipartisan measures that will benefit the American people. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Leo Shey of Pembroke Pines, Florida. Leo was a dear friend of mine who sadly passed away on June 13, 2017. Leo was born in the Bronx, New York. He served honorably in the United States Navy, and after marrying his wife Bunny in 1950, they moved to Dade County in South Florida in 1958. As a mortgage banker, Leo dedicated many years of his career specializing in low-income housing in Dade and Broward counties, and also served on the board of directors of the Park Place Association for 40 years. Through his contributions, Leo made a profound impact in South Florida. Leo went on to establish himself in Atlanta, Georgia where he emerged as an ally of the African American business community. At the forefront of civil rights activism, Leo became an esteemed member of the 100 percent Wrong Club. Distinguishing himself through extraordinary involvement in the community, Leo touched countless lives. He is survived by his wife Bunny, and adored by father of Nina Voges (Dan), Michael (Barbara), like-a-son Seth Brown, and predeceased by Douglas. Beloved and wise grandfather of Tim (Rachel), Caitlin (Todd), Sherri and Terri (Cesar), and blended family Danielle (Jorge del Valle, Arya and Jayley) and Sean Voges (Alice). Adoring Pop-pop of Wilhelmina, Sebastian and Violette Leo. Mr. Speaker, words cannot express how deeply saddened I am for the passing of such a kind soul. I was devastated to learn of the death of one of the nicest people I have ever known. Leo was not a large man, but he was most among men. It is with a heavy heart that I honor his life arid accomplishments, but most of all, to honor our friendship. My thoughts are with his loved ones, during this most difficult time.