Gregg Harper

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Utah (Mrs. Love).

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how many additional speakers the minority may have?

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I share that admiration for Candice Miller, who will be leaving at the end of this term. It has been great to see the working relationship that Mr. Brady and Mrs. Miller have had together on the Committee on House Administration. It has been an excellent example of how this place can operate. Let us come together, though, here to fulfill our responsibility to one of the House's standing committees and provide the Committee on Energy and Commerce, both the majority and the minority, the funding that they need to finish their work this year. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the question of adopting a motion to recommit on H. Res. 933 may be subject to postponement as though under clause 8 of rule XX.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 5160) to amend title 40, United States Code, to include as part of the buildings and grounds of the National Gallery of Art any buildings and other areas within the boundaries of any real estate or other property interests acquired by the National Gallery of Art, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material in the Record on the consideration of the bill.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4511, the Gold Star Families Voices Act. The Gold Star Families Voices Act expands the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project that was created by Congress in the year 2000. Now in its 16th year, the Veterans History Project carries out the mission to collect, preserve, and make accessible America's war veterans' accounts of events that occurred during our Nation's military conflicts. These recordings are publicly available so that we may all benefit from their experience as well as offer future generations a valuable tool to learn and better understand the realities of war. Over the years, the Veterans History Project has collected, recorded interviews, as well as memoirs and original photographs, letters, maps, and other documents noting the historical events from conflicts dating back to World War I to recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In February of this year, the project collected their 100,000 veteran account. Currently, Veterans History Project submissions are limited to firsthand veterans' accounts. Because of this, the project unintentionally does not collect accounts and histories of servicemembers who did not return from action. Championed by Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey's Fourth District, this bill will make an important update, allowing the immediate family members of veterans who died as a result of their wartime service or were missing in action to provide stories on behalf of their relatives. The measure before us was reported unanimously out of the Committee on House Administration and has received the support of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., a group of mothers who have lost a son or daughter while they served on behalf of their country. Stemming from World War I, the families displayed a flag with a blue star to represent each immediate family member who was serving in the Armed Forces. Those whose immediate family members died while serving in the war replaced those blue stars with a gold star to honor their loved one's sacrifice while they were defending our Nation and the cause of freedom. Following World War I, a group of mothers banded together in their grief and formed the American Gold Star Mothers in 1928. Their organization has expanded nationally, and other groups have formed to support Gold Star Families and Gold Star Spouses. Our Armed Forces and Nation as a whole recognizes not only the fallen men and women who don the uniform and stand in defense of our democracy and liberty, but together, we also honor the families of those brave men and women who have given so much of themselves to our Nation. It is also fitting that the House consider passage of this bill honoring the memory of those fallen during the month of September. While we keep those that serve and have served, as well as their families, in our hearts each and every day, our Nation also annually observes the last Sunday of September as Gold Star Mothers and Gold Star Families Day. Honoring their sacrifice is just one reason why it is important to update the Veterans History Project to include voices of those fallen through our Gold Star families. Our Gold Star families will be able to tell our Nation about their family member's individual experiences and path that led them to answer the call to service within our Nation's military branches. These family members will be able to tell us the stories that their loved ones sent home through a letter or a phone call describing their experiences and daily life while serving. So many brave men and women have stood up and responded each time our Nation called, and so many more made the ultimate sacrifice. Preserving the legacies of all those who have contributed to our Nation's defense is a cornerstone of what it means to be an American. As a country, we are continually strengthened because of the legacies our servicemembers left behind for future generations. This important addition will only enhance the Veterans History Project, the Library of Congress' overall mission, and the countless current and future individuals who will benefit from access to these cherished memories, as well as our servicemen and -women's sobering accounts discussing the price of war. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).

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

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4511) to amend the Veterans' Oral History Project Act to allow the collection of video and audio recordings of biographical histories by immediate family members of members of the Armed Forces who died as a result of their service during a period of war.

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor to stand here today in support of this legislation. The inclusion of these accounts from the loved ones of those who have given their lives in service to our Nation will only enrich the Library's Veterans History Project and our Nation's narrative memorializing those who have served. The Veterans History Project has provided a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to our Nation's veterans, ensuring that their actions and legacies live on for many generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the occasion of the 2016 Academy of General Dentistry's Annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts to commend and congratulate W. Mark Donald, DMD, MAGD, for his service as the 52nd President of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) 2015- 2016. A Louisville, Mississippi native, Dr. Donald is a graduate of Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry. He has served in private practice and has continued to deliver professional dental care and oral care education to the citizens in his local community for the past 28 years. Dr. Donald is the first dentist from Region 12 of the AGD and the Mississippi AGD to hold an elected national office and to become the national President of this organization. The Academy of General Dentistry was founded in 1952 with the foundational core principal of continuing education for general dentists to advance their knowledge, education and training in all fields of dentistry through post-graduate continuing education. The Academy of General Dentistry is the second largest dental professional organization in North America with over 40,000 members consisting of 62 constituents in the United States and Canada with student and international members. Members of the Academy of General Dentistry are required to acquire continuing education as a membership requirement and can obtain a coveted Fellowship and Mastership in the AGD. Fellows in the AGD make up 15% of the membership and only 5% of the membership obtain the coveted Mastership award. Dr. Donald obtained the Mastership award in 2009. Dr. Donald has been a member of the AGD since 1988 and has served in both appointed and elected positions of leadership within the AGD. He was appointed to the Legislative and Governmental Affairs Council in 2000 and served as chair from 2003 to 2006. He was elected as Regional Director of Region 12 and served for five years and two as chair. He has been elected to serve as AGD Speaker of the House, and in 2013 he was elected as the AGD Vice President. Dr. Donald was instrumental in the conception, formulation and implementation of the AGD advocacy strategic plan including the introduction and initiation of the AGD Advocacy fund and the AGD Hill Day and has helped guide the AGD advocacy efforts for the general dentists for the past 16 years. Dr. Donald received the first Dentist of the Year award in his home state of Mississippi in 2010 and was recognized as the 2016 Alumnus of the Year for the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry. He is the first and current project chair of the Mississippi Mission of Mercy which has provided 1.3 million dollars of free dental care to 2,800 patients in Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Dr. W. Mark Donald, DMD, MAGD for his service as the 52nd President of the Academy of General Dentistry, and also to acknowledge the significance that the Academy of General Dentistry has had on the profession of dentistry, the oral health care delivery system of the United States, and the importance of oral health care for all our citizens.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 111, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, on January 8, 2016, I was detained in my district attending a memorial service for Loyd Lewis Matthews who was killed while on active duty with the Air Force in 1952. His remains were only recently discovered. On roll call numbers 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32, had I been present, I would have voted NO. On roll call number 33, I would have voted YES.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. Across our country, over 90 percent of community water systems serve a population of less than 10,000. The 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act authorized technical assistance for small and rural communities to assist them in complying with rules and regulations promulgated under the act. This important technical assistance and compliance training ensures that Federal regulations do not overwhelm the resources of small and rural communities. It also allows small communities access to assistance which is necessary to improve and protect their water resources. Without these initiatives, effective implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act in rural areas would be nearly impossible. In addition to being the main source of compliance assistance, rural water technical assistance has been invaluable in emergency responses in small and rural communities. Rural water technicians led the assistance effort in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, where hundreds of communities relied on assistance from the local and surrounding State rural water associations for immediate assistance in restoring drinking water and sanitation services. S. 611, the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act, would help ensure that this technical assistance continues. As the author of the House companion bill, H.R. 2853, I appreciate the Energy and Commerce Committee's commitment to this issue and especially want to thank Chairman Shimkus and Ranking Member Tonko and the entire Environment and Economy Subcommittee staff for the time and effort they have invested in discussions, negotiations, legislative hearings, and markup of this legislation. Throughout this process, my friend Kirby Mayfield, who is the executive director of the Mississippi Rural Water Association, and Mike Keegan with the National Rural Water Association and others have provided a wealth of knowledge in helping to develop and shepherd this legislation. I would also like to thank Senator Roger Wicker and his staff for sharing my deep interest in this issue and for authoring S. 611 and working towards its passage in the Senate and in the House. Again, Mr. Speaker, thank you for your attention to this issue that affects so many of our constituents. I encourage all Members to support S. 611.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, our prayers go out to the families whose loved ones were murdered or wounded in the pointless acts of violence carried out in Paris on November 13. These were attacks on innocent people by Islamic terrorists, recruited, trained, equipped, and directed by a deranged group of people known as ISIS. These are our enemies. They may be difficult to know, but not impossible to defeat, and we will defeat them. I commend the French President for calling this what it is: an act of war. This is, indeed, a war declared on Western civilization--in fact, all of civilization--by Islamic terrorists who are so consumed with pure evil that they believe that the slaughter of innocence is the path to paradise. We will never give up in this war. France is the oldest ally of the United States. In fact, a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette, whose assistance was integral to the birth of our Nation, hangs in this very Chamber. If France is at war, the United States must be at war as well. In the strongest terms, I condemn Islamic terrorism around the world, and I pledge solidarity and commitment to our French brothers and sisters.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the bill (S. 2162) to establish a 10-year term for the service of the Librarian of Congress, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 702, but, more importantly, I rise today in support of American jobs. The U.S. daily production of oil has increased dramatically in the past 14 years. That number is projected to continue to increase due to advances in technology, but companies need a new market. At this point, the ban is not protecting the economy. Instead, the economy is being restricted, and Americans are being denied jobs. My district and State rely on good-paying oil industry jobs. At a time when our economy can't afford to see unemployment numbers rise, oil companies are being forced to cut back their workforce. Lifting the ban on crude oil exports will mean new jobs for Mississippians that will allow them to support their families. I urge my colleagues to support and vote for H.R. 702 and for American jobs.

Mr. HARPER

Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I am and will remain opposed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran. It represents Iran's ability to build a nuclear weapon at a future date while reaping the financial benefits of immediate relief from international sanctions. By removing sanctions, the agreement injects almost $100 billion into the Iranian regime. Iran is the single largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, funding--even with sanctions in place--Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Over $43 billion in judgments have been awarded to Americans who have been the victims of Iranian terrorism. The agreement fails to clear those judgments. The agreement, at best, delays Iran's ability to build nuclear weapons. At worst, it gives the regime more money to engage in more terrorism while providing no justice to Americans already harmed by the regime. The Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act is timely. It is appropriate, and it should be supported by every member of this body who believe in the validity of U.S. courts and the Federal Sovereign Immunities Act.