Duncan Hunter

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Madam Speaker, let me say to Chairman Goodlatte, thank you very much for your leadership on this and thanks for moving this so quickly. This is a timely bill, and I just want to thank you and your committee for moving it so quick. This legislation is about one thing. That is accountability. The American people have the right to not give their Federal tax dollars to municipalities and States that do not follow Federal law. There are lots of changes to enforcement that must be imposed on sanctuary cities, and we are going to work toward those things. This Republican Congress is going to work toward those things, just as we are putting in motion a mechanism today that holds sanctuary cities accountable. I think we can all agree that any locality must comply with the law, and they are required to coordinate and cooperate with the Federal Government. If an arrest is made, the Federal Government should be notified. The fact that San Francisco and L.A. and other cities disagree with the politics of Federal enforcement does not give them a free pass to subvert the law. If they do, there has to be consequences. The way that we impose consequences on these sanctuary cities is by hitting them where it hurts, and that is in their pocketbook. It is simple. If you don't comply with the law as it stands now, then you don't receive coveted Federal money intended for law enforcement. And that money allocated for fiscal year 2015 alone almost adds up to a billion dollars. $800 million are going to municipalities, cities, counties, and States that care more about illegal alien criminals, felons, than they do their own citizens. It is time we stand up to sanctuary cities and begin holding them accountable for their failure to uphold the law. I come as a representative that has sanctuary cities in my district. They are going to lose money for this. They are going to lose money because they are not complying with Federal law. This Federal money that they get is taxpayer money from States like Wisconsin, from New York, from South Carolina, from Florida, and throughout the entire country. People around this country don't want their money going to States and cities that don't care to follow the Federal law. Again, if you are a State, city, or locality and you choose to defy Federal immigration law, you will be cut off from three Federal programs: the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, the Community- Oriented Policing Services program, and the Byrne JAG program. These are the three funds that will get cut if you are a sanctuary city. All you have to do to receive these funds is comply with the Federal law. This bill is just the first step in restoring accountability in our immigration system. Our border infrastructure continues to fall short in too many places, and I am as frustrated as anyone in this Congress that the administration refuses to enforce Federal immigration law. These are all serious issues that need to be addressed, and I look forward to working with this Congress and Chairman Goodlatte in the future to advance these goals. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3009.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Samantha Moen, of Santee, California, who qualified for the USA Shooting's National Junior Olympic Championship in International Trap. Samantha's hard work and dedication to the sport of trap shooting have earned her the distinct honor of representing not only the City of Santee, but the State of California in this month's Championship, taking place in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since 1995, USA Shooting has operated as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in the United States. The nonprofit organization represents all shooting athletes who go on to represent the United States in the Olympic and Paralympic games, meaning that only the nation's most qualified and distinguished shooters have the opportunity to train and compete at their Colorado Springs headquarters. For many, the invitation to the National Junior Olympic Championship is the first opportunity young shooters have at realizing their dream of representing the United States on the international stage of shooting. In the case of Samantha, who took home the Silver Medal in the California Junior State Olympics, the sport of shooting has offered her something more than the opportunity to compete at the national level--it's paved her way to compete at the top collegiate shooting program in the nation, at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. In order to realize her dream of representing the United States in the Olympics, Samantha will have to continue honing her trap shooting abilities in the coming years. And I have no doubt that the experience of competing later this month in Colorado Springs will only further instill a desire in Samantha to strive for the best. I'm honored to wish Samantha Moen the best of luck at the USA Shooting's National Junior Olympic Championship. I am sure Samantha will represent our community and state well, and am hopeful she will one day represent our nation on the international stage.

Mr. HUNTER

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

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Chairman, first, I want to thank the chairman from New Jersey and just thank him for the wonderful job he has done protecting our troops and our people around world and making sure that the world remains a safer place than it would be otherwise without the United States there. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment that would prohibit the Department of Defense from increasing the prices paid by our troops and their families, our veterans and their families at military commissaries, especially overseas. The commissary benefit is one of a number of benefits that our servicemembers receive upon joining the military, and it is one that our servicemembers and their families rely upon to maintain their access to wholesome, affordable, and healthy food. The Defense Commissary Agency, or DeCA, has embarked upon a poorly researched plan to raise prices on commissary consumers as part of a move towards what they call a ``commercial'' business model. This amendment requires the Department of Defense to continue using the existing model of produce sourcing for commissaries in Asia and the Pacific unless and until the Secretary of Defense can certify that a new sourcing model will not raise prices on the shelves. This maintains the promised benefits that our warriors and their families expected to receive when they raised their right hand and became a United States sailor, airman, soldier, or marine. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, it's with a profound sense of pride that I rise today in recognition of our nation's Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) program, its cadets and the excellent cadre of leadership that instructs and guides these future naval officers. Our nation is defended by a military that is second-to-none, but it's no mistake that the quality and pedigree of our nation's armed forces is beyond comparison. Training is only part of what makes a good military leader. The principles of commitment, organization, teamwork and respect are not always learned--in many ways, they are innate, and those who serve in the NJROTC program show a level of talent and dedication that consistently demonstrates why our military--and our Navy, especially--possesses so many first-rate leaders. Most recently, a national competition was launched to determine the 2015 Navy League Most Improved Unit and the 2015 Most Outstanding Unit. Most improved honors went to the Pearl River Central High School in Carriere, Mississippi. The Most Outstanding Unit award was given to the Allen D. Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida. Two impressive units, Mr. Speaker, and both showed strong attributes in their respective award areas. There was plenty of competition, and every unit gave their best--and for that, both the award winners and the entire field of competitors can take great pride in their accomplishments. Receiving a top award is really quite an honor, Mr. Speaker. In fact, awards often reflect years of hard work and development, even though awards are given yearly. The award criteria is exhaustive--evaluating participation in the classroom, physical fitness and extracurricular activities. Cadets even participate in community service projects--with one unit, Pearl River, completing more than 5,000 hours of community service alone. However, Mr. Speaker, as we extend our congratulations to the cadets, I would be remiss if we didn't recognize the amazing work of the many program instructors. In particular, I want to recognize Naval Science Instructors Col. Todd Ryder and Chief Ron Hazlewood, whose leadership, professionalism and knowledge have been integral to successful mentorship in the NJROTC program at Pearl River. And I know their commitment to the cadets has translated into the development of community leaders and positive influences within the school system. A special thank you to Todd and Ron, for all you do to encourage future patriots with the same tenacity and work ethic that defined your own service careers. Mr. Speaker, once again, I ask that this body join me in recognizing this fine group of Americans for all they have accomplished--and their continued and future service to this great nation.

Mr. HUNTER

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

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Chairman, we have a problem right now, and the problem is this: you have radical Islamic terrorists in places where there is no U.S. law enforcement presence capturing and detaining and holding hostage American citizens, not American military personnel, but American citizens. In the past, the problem has not been as exacerbated as it has been since 9/11. You have the FBI. The FBI has always had purview and has had jurisdiction over hostage cases, but the problem is in Iraq, there is no FBI; in Syria, there is no FBI; in Afghanistan, there is no FBI. In war zones, you don't have the FBI. What you have is the Department of Defense and different intelligence agencies are ones that track the networks, know the networks, know who the bad guys are, know where the hostages may be, and then in case that we actually get good intelligence, the Department of Defense and our intelligence communities, those are the people that would act on the intelligence, not the FBI. If there is a hostage situation here at the Capitol, the FBI would take care of it; if there is a hostage situation in San Diego or New York, the FBI would take care of it--again, not if it is ISIS, not if it is al Qaeda, and not if it is in Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, or other war zone type country. What my amendment does is make sure that there is now a joint interagency coordinator under the President who works directly with the President and anybody else that they need to. We have, to date, five people--five American citizens--that have been killed by radical Islamic terrorists. We haven't freed one of them. Not a single American citizen has made it home alive, except for the trade that we did with the five terrorists from GTMO for Private Bergdahl. That is the only one. The rest have died. Sixty days after this bill passes both the House and the Senate, the President is required to appoint an existing Federal officer to coordinate rescue efforts for Americans held by hostile groups such as ISIS or al Qaeda. It also allows for Congress to be informed. If you have a member from your district who is one of these hostages, you get quarterly reports from the FBI from this fusion cell on what is happening with your hostage. It also requires reporting to the different committees in Congress that have oversight over this what is going on with the hostages because, right now, people don't really know. Those of us here in this room, we don't really know, unless we reach out and contact them and ask for a special meeting. It shouldn't be the case. There is one thing I can guarantee this body: over the next 25 years, radical Islam is not going away. You are going to have more Americans taken hostage. We need to make sure that we at least have somebody where the buck stops, and this creates a person where the buck stops, finally, who can answer our questions from this body and can answer questions from the families and everybody else. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I have remaining?

Mr. HUNTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the gentleman from Maryland, too, for his work on this. He shouldn't have to and Warren's family shouldn't have to go through what they go through. Hopefully, this makes it better. I would like to thank the ranking member and Chairman Thornberry for supporting this as well. Lastly, to get something like this done, it takes people within the Department of Defense, within the system, who actually know what needs to get done. Lieutenant Colonel Jason Amerine has worked in my office now for about 2 years on this amendment, and he is someone who really cares. He has been working hostage stuff with about every government agency that there is. I just want to say he played a big role in getting this to where it is at now. I would urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, in February, 1942, Howard Payne was a 27- year old employee of the Bank of Benton when he received his induction notice. He reported to the Scott Field, IL, Induction Center and was assigned an Army serial number. Payne completed his basic training at Camp McCoy, WI, the site of the Second Army Maneuvers where 65,000 Soldiers from seven states formed the largest troop concentration in the Midwest. Payne was sent to Fort Sheridan, IL and then to Camp Ellis near Macomb, IL where he was assigned to the 368th Engineer Battalion. In October 1943, Payne's battalion was alerted that it would be shipping out from Camp Shanks, NY. Payne remembers leaving the New York Harbor and viewing the Statue of Liberty. ``Our Captain told us to take a good look at the Statue because some of you will never see her again.'' Payne recounts, ``He was right. I saw an unbelievable loss of life. We did not outgun the German's. We just outnumbered them.'' Payne was with the first military convoy to travel overseas. Passage of the Atlantic Ocean was dangerous because the German's controlled the air and sea with submarines below and with airplanes above. It took his ship 14 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean due to the strength of the enemy. ``Our ship had to zigzag in the ocean to keep out of harm's way.'' Most American troop ships were accompanied by battleships. Payne's ship landed in Bristol, England, amid a furious battle. German airplanes were strafing Bristol's railroad tracks, city streets, and local citizens. To help ward off the low flying airplanes, the residents of Bristol had erected huge balloons to keep the planes from flying at a low altitude. ``We were introduced to war shortly after we landed.'' Members of the 368th were boarded on trains and transported to Liverpool, England. ``We began building airports and housing for the troops,'' noted Payne. While they were constructing airfields and barracks, the United States declared war on Germany. In May, 1944, the 368th were told that they would be a part of an invasion. ``We loaded our ships with equipment and troops and waited. Multiple times we were told to ``ship-out,'' but on two occasions, we were ordered to ``stand-down.'' Weather played a role in the timeline for the invasion. ``Finally, we got orders to ship out'' Payne remembers. On June 6, 1944, U.S. Army Private Payne was in the second wave at Utah Beach in the Normandy Peninsula Invasion. Payne joined thousands of Americans in Operation Overlord. GIs from the 368th were transferred from ships to Landing Ships, Tanks (LST). The LSTs were filled with caterpillars, tractors, and heavy construction equipment. The weight of the equipment caused the LST to sit deep in the water. ``Our LST hit the ocean's floor early and we had to jump out and wade ashore.'' Utah Beach was one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings. The westernmost of the five landing beaches, Utah is on the Cotentin Peninsula. Amphibious landings at Utah were undertaken by U.S. Army troops, with sea transport and naval artillery support provided by the U.S. Navy, with elements from the British Royal Navy. The objective at Utah Beach was to secure a beachhead, the location of important port facilities at Cherbourg. The amphibious assault by the U.S. 4th Infantry Division and 70th Tank Battalion was supported by airborne landings of the 82nd and the 101st. Their mission was to seal off the Cotentin Peninsula to prevent the Germans from reinforcing Cherbourg. The Allies faced two battalions of the 919th Grenadier Regiment, part of the 709th Static Infantry Division. German fortifications were under the leadership of ``The Desert Fox,'' Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Payne remembers that the beaches were strewed with men who were dead, dying and wounded. The Germans were high over the cliffs. The first goal was to get ashore and scale the cliffs. ``When we got to the top of the cliffs, I thought the rough part was over, but I discovered the bad stuff was just beginning'' Payne recalls. Members of the 386th immediately began clearing the area of obstacles and mines. Additional American reinforcements continued to arrive. At the close of D-Day, Allied forces had captured about half of the planned area. Contingents of German defenders remained, but the beachhead was secure. Payne's unit pushed the Germans back to Le Mans, France. The 368th constructed a pontoon bridge to facilitate the European Theater of Operations and allowed Lieutenant Colonel Christian Clarke, Jr. to move his 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division across the river. Clarke proceeded on into Western France. Payne was with the forces that helped liberate Paris, fought the enemy to Luxemburg, and was caught in the Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium. It was the winter of 1944 when the Allied Forces had to defend the important harbor of Antwerp from the Germans in a 40-day surprise attack that came to be known as the ``Battle of the Bulge.'' Between December 16, 1944, and January 25, 1945, the U.S. forces fought back the German attack, and in doing so, incurred their highest casualties for any operation of the war. America's fighting spirit prevailed and, late in January, the Allied forces scored a decisive victory over Germany. The Allied forces fought the enemy up the Ryan River and forced the German's back to Berlin. Payne's battalion was stopped from attacking Berlin due to terms of the Yalta Agreement. The United States and England capitulated to Russia, and agreed that the only invading forces would be the Red Army. ``We had the fight and we had the spirit to battle the enemy all the way to Berlin, but Russian dictator Joseph Stalin had convinced the Allied forces to stop our progress.'' On May 8, 1945, Payne was near Dusseldorf, Germany when the Allied forces announced Victory in Europe. The six-year-old War had concluded in Europe, but the Japanese were still fighting in the Pacific Theatre. Payne and others were told that GIs involved in the Normandy Invasion were exempt from the war in the Pacific. The Pacific conflict ended only after the August 6, 1945, detonation of the Atomic Bomb. President Harry S. Truman ordered the deployment of the new weapon that caused the Japanese to capitulate to Allied demands. Payne waited from June until November to be shipped back to the states. On Dec. 5, 1945, Payne was discharged from the U.S. Army with the rank of Staff Sergeant. Ten days after his discharge, he married Helene Takie in his hometown of Benton, IL. Their marriage lasted almost 65 years, until her passing in July, 2010. Payne returned to his position at the Bank of Benton and eventually became its president. He remains active as a community leader, a champion of education projects and a philanthropist. Mr. Speaker, today Payne will celebrate his 100th birthday at his rural Benton, Illinois, home. We extend our deepest appreciation to Howard Lee Payne for his service to his country, both in battle during WWII, and for his post-war contributions.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand and recognize the Marine Raiders of Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT) 8231, 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Command who lost their lives during a training exercise on March 10, 2015. These young men represent the finest our nation has to offer, and we are forever indebted to them for their service. On the morning of March 10, an Army National Guard-operated UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter embarked on a training exercise off the coast of the Florida Panhandle carrying seven members of MSOT 8231 and four members of the Louisiana National Guard, who were operating the helicopter. As part of a rigorous pre-deployment exercise, the Raiders were practicing special operations insertion techniques with two UH-60 aircraft. Sadly, it was on their training mission that the Marines and Guardsmen in one helicopter lost their lives. As a unit with great distinction throughout the War in Afghanistan, MSOT 8231 first deployed in 2010 under Special Operations Task Force- West, operating from the City of Herat. While in Herat, MSOT 8231 primarily conducted Counter-Insurgency (COIN), Foreign Internal Defense (FID) and Direct Action (DA) activities within the Murghab District of the Badghis Province. After redeployment and reconstitution, MSOT 8231 deployed again in 2012 to Bala Murghab, in the Murghab District, where it built upon tactical and operational gains it and other MSOT's achieved on previous rotations. MSOT 8231 continued building their Afghan partner's capacity, promoting good governance, and countering the insurgent initiatives in this highly remote and austere geographic slice of Afghanistan. During the 2012 deployment, MSOT 8231 was tasked with permanently closing their base and retrograding years' worth of hardware for consolidation at a larger base hundreds of miles south in Herat. Without a single paved road in the entire Badghis Province, this proved a difficult task. Nevertheless, MSOT 8231 completed the job and left Bala Murghab in the hands of the Afghan National Army, Police, and government. After returning home, rebuilding and adding new personnel to MSOT 8231, the team again deployed in 2013 to western Afghanistan. Their most recent return to Afghanistan saw a change in tasks from previous deployments as they partnered with the highly regarded Afghan Commandos to conduct offensive activities against the Taliban. While the mission changed, their resolve did not, as consistent enemy combat persisted until the very end of their deployment. Even still, MSOT 8231 continued efforts to enhance their partners' capacity to operate effectively on their own. MSOT 8231 departed Afghanistan in June 2014; however, their focus never left the region. Prior to any deployment, teams work together to hone and develop their skills, and when combat operations commence, the months of training leading up to deployment are finally put to test. For MSOT 8231, this meant building on the strong relationship established during previous deployments with the 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion, based in Hammond, Louisiana. On March 10, two Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawks participated in a routine training mission; however, the mission turned out to be anything but routine, as only one Black Hawk returned. On that day, our nation lost seven Marine Raiders. Not only did they accept the challenge of becoming the best that the Marine Corps has to offer, these Marine Raiders did so during a time of war. Along the way, the Marine Raiders of MSOT 8231 received such awards as the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry and Bronze Star Medals for valor, and all had Valor awards from their time fighting on combat deployments. To the families, friends, and loved ones of Captain Stanford Shaw III, Master Sergeant Thomas Saunders, Staff Sergeant Marcus Bawol, Staff Sergeant Trevor Blaylock, Staff Sergeant Liam Flynn, Staff Sergeant Kerry Kemp, Staff Sergeant Andrew Seif, Chief Warrant Officer George Wayne Griffin, Chief Warrant Officer George David Strother, Staff Sergeant Lance Bergeron, and Staff Sergeant Thomas Florich, please know that we are a grateful nation. On countless training exercises, your brave warriors risked their lives to ensure the tip of the spear always remained sharp and ready for battle. And while the Marine Raider community lost these warriors, their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Never above you, never below you, always beside you. Semper Fi.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exciting event that took place in my district this past week on April 10, 2015, by the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. The Grand Opening of the Padre Dam Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Pilot Plant in Santee, California is an important and critical step in the overall effort by San Diego County to become more water independent as a region and maintain the very best in our water management practices. We all know that California is currently in the midst of a severe multi-year drought, but ensuring our communities can rely on being provided with clean and healthy water has been the mission of Padre Dam for many decades. In fact, on this same day in 1962, founding General Manager of Padre Dam Ray Stoyer wrote to President Kennedy complimenting him on his commitment to the science of water management innovation and requesting his assistance in a groundbreaking water reclamation study and project at Padre Dam. President Kennedy supported the District's reclamation efforts and today the appropriately named Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility treats and recycles more than two million gallons of water per day. Over the years, these efforts have been recognized by the California Water Environment Association, which awarded this facility its ``California Plant of the Year'' designation in 2005, as well as naming it ``San Diego Plant of the Year'' multiple times in 1977, 1978, 1981, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2010. I am pleased to see that this proud tradition is being carried on with Padre Dam's most recent effort in its Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Pilot Plant. Funded through a $3 million state grant, this innovative project will test the feasibility of creating a new source of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 acre feet of purified water for East San Diego County. If successful, this project has the potential to provide up to 20% of our current drinking water demand via a locally- controlled, independent, drought-proof and environmentally sound water supply, thereby reducing our dependency on outside sources of imported water. California's current drought conditions, coupled with San Diego's historical reliance on imported water, mandate that we pursue every alternative that will lead to the San Diego region expanding its resource portfolio and utilize an ``all the above'' approach to water management. This includes traditional efforts such as conservation and reservoir and aquifer storage, as well as taking advantage of new technologies and science in the areas of desalination and reclamation projects like the one developed by Padre Dam which we are today recognizing. My colleagues, I ask that you join me in congratulating Padre Dam Municipal Water District for its forward-thinking vision and willingness to pursue new ideas on an old, but important, problem. Everyone at the District, from leadership to all members of staff, is making a direct positive impact in our community and I am confident that your investment will prove to be valuable in helping us reach both our short and long-term water management goals.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. I would like to thank the gentleman from Georgia for dealing with the entire Congress and coming up with only two budgets, Price 1 and Price 2. I think that the chairman has been pulled in just about every different direction, and I am actually glad that this is coming to fruition. I would like to urge my colleagues to vote for Price 2, the defense budget that Chairman Price is putting out, and vote ``no'' on Price 1. There is a reason for that: Price 2 is the defense budget. Our job as Members of Congress is to do a lot of things. We go to different meetings. We vote on transportation, education, labor issues, and all kinds of things. But our number one job, our number one job of the American people is to keep them safe. It is national security. That is why I am here. I did three tours. I did two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. I was in Iraq when we didn't have up-armored Humvees. I was in Iraq when we didn't have enough scopes for our Marines and security forces. I was in Afghanistan when we didn't have enough stuff, too. In fact, if you vote for Price 2, you are still only voting for the ragged edge of what our Defense Department needs. We have things going off all over right now. Africa is gone. The Middle East is gone and going. Eastern Europe is going now because of the Russians. And Asia and China, China is impinging and coming eastward towards the United States. Things will never be safer. Things will never be safer. I think the American people have to realize that, but they have to contend with it. The American people need to know that their Navy is patrolling the ocean, that their Marines and their Army are able to go wherever we ask them to at a moment's notice and wherever we need them to. The American people need to know that their Air Force is patrolling the skies. If we are $20 billion under the ragged edge of what our Defense Department needs, we are going to have to make sacrifices, and the American people are not going to be as safe. If we vote and Price 1 wins, we are going to have to leave here and tell the American people that the American military cannot do what they think it can do. Price 2 will fund the U.S. military where it needs to be to face all these challenges, still barely--still barely--but the American military will be able to do it. Mr. Chairman, I would urge my colleagues to look around the world and ask themselves one question: What is their job as a U.S. Congress Member? What is their number one job? There is no social security without national security. It doesn't matter what our education budget is if another 9/11 happens. I wear this 9/11 memorial bracelet on my wrist. That is what made me join the Marine Corps is when our towers went down. When those towers fell, we realized what was important, and it was keeping this country safe. Price 2 will help keep this country safe; Price 1 will make it a more dangerous place. Again, Mr. Chairman, I would urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on Price 1 and vote ``yes'' on Price 2. Again, I thank the chairman for giving his heart and soul to this and listening to so many people and trying to come up with something that this side of the aisle can agree on.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, San Diego has produced many sports heroes over the years. Rarely, a champion appears on the sports scene whose character and personal impact on others transcends his athletic accomplishments. Billy Casper was such a man. Billy is known for his 51 victories on the professional golf tour, the seventh most in golf history. But I can tell you as a friend of Billy's, he was more than that; he radiated goodness and friendship. When Billy played, the game itself was secondary. Everyone just wanted to be around Billy and the love of his life, Shirley. And Billy Casper was ``G'' rated in the same sense as Roy Rogers. To put it simply, you could bring your kids to a Billy Casper event. Billy's life was that of a San Diego legend. Billy elected to stay in San Diego when his mom announced she was moving to Los Angeles with her new husband. From that point on, Billy bounced around the South Bay, staying with buddies, playing sports and venturing out to the greens of San Diego Country Club to practice his putting--at night. It was in these moments that Billy gained his impeccable touch, making him one of the greatest putters in the history of the game. At a football game he spotted a pretty girl in the bleachers. Soon, they were inseparable, and after a short stint in the Navy and success on the local amateur circuit, Shirley and Billy Casper got married. They would remain a team for life. They saw the movie, Follow The Sun, in which Ben Hogan, played by Glenn Ford, came back from a near fatal accident to win the U.S. Open. Billy and Shirley were taken with the adventure of Ben Hogan and his wife Valerie, sallying forth on the PGA tour with no guarantees and only themselves to rely on. Soon after, they too decided to ``Follow the Sun.'' With a Buick Roadmaster and a Spartan Trailer, they headed out on the PGA Tour. Making less than $50 in their first event, the difficulty of the tour became evident. Then, Billy's talent began to prevail. By the third round of the 1958 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, Billy was leading, with such legends as Ben Hogan and Sam Snead in hot pursuit. And let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, the kid from San Diego knew how to close tournaments. He won that U.S. Open and proceeded in the next decade to win more golf tournaments than Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus or Gary Player. Along the way, Billy put together the best Ryder Cup record in U.S. history. At Olympic, in the 1966 U.S. Open, Billy shot the greatest come-from-behind closing nine holes in U.S. Open history, making up seven shots on Arnie, with a closing 32. He defeated Arnold Palmer the next day in an eighteen hole playoff with a 69. In an age of sports psychologists and ``living in the moment,'' where athletes are counseled to jettison all distractions, Billy Casper redefined the term ``family man.'' He and Shirley were blessed with 11 children, who have given them 71 grandchildren over the years. Billy Casper thrived on what others would consider career distractions and his reward for building a family of love and unity is that the Casper support structure for young people will continue. His annual golf tournament will be played this year as a memorial, run by the Casper children and grandchildren as usual, and with Shirley overseeing everything. Only one guy will be missing, the grandfather with the magic golf touch and the big heart; the guy who did us all proud . . . not just because of what he did, but because of who he was. Inside. Where it counts.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, to mark World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st, 2015, the San Diego Congressional Delegation honors individuals challenged by Down syndrome. World Down Syndrome Day was established by the United Nations in 2011 and is marked each year on the 21st of March to raise awareness for those affected by this condition. Down syndrome is the most common genetic condition in the U.S., affecting approximately 400,000 Americans. Each year nearly 6,000 babies are born in the United States with Down syndrome. Over the years, research and improved therapy options have led to great advances in the health and quality of life for those affected by Down syndrome. And Congress needs to continue to build upon those efforts. We applaud the efforts of Special Heroes and their San Diego Down Syndrome chapter for their mission to serve individuals diagnosed with Down syndrome and their families in the San Diego community--improving their daily lives by providing opportunities for success while promoting community education and engagement is paramount. Special Heroes has partnered with The Arc of San Diego to be a valuable foundation and resource of support to many families in the San Diego Community. Mr. Speaker, the San Diego Congressional Delegation stands to recognize World Down Syndrome Day.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 2444) to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2015, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2651) to repeal certain mandates of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 2651.

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. S. 2651, the DHS OIG Mandates Revision Act of 2014, repeals three reports the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General is required to conduct and submit annually to Congress. The reports include evaluations of the cargo inspection targeting system for international intermodal cargo containers, Coast Guard mission performance, and certain Department of Homeland Security grants. Without a mandate, the Department's Office of Inspector General can continue to conduct these audits periodically, but at its own discretion. CBO estimates repeal of these mandates will save nearly $2 million to the taxpayers annually. I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, December 10, 2014. Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Shuster: I write to you regarding the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Homeland Security in S. 2651, the ``DHS OIG Mandates Revision Act of 2014''. The measure passed the Senate by unanimous consent on September 17, 2014 and was additionally referred to the Committee on Homeland Security. In the interest of permitting the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to proceed expeditiously to the House floor, I will forgo further consideration of S. 2651. However, I do so with the following reservation. By eliminating mandates of Inspector General investigations, Congress lessens its voice in oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. Under this lawless Administration, Congress should have more of a voice, not less, in what the Office of Inspector General investigates. In addition, I will forgo consideration with the mutual understanding that the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security is in no way diminished. I further request that you urge the Speaker to name Members of this Committee to any conference committee that is named to consider such provisions. Finally, I request you include this letter and your response into the Congressional Record during consideration of S. 2651 on the House floor. Thank your for your cooperation. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman.

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

Mr. HUNTER

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5769.

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5769, the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, reauthorizes funding for the Coast Guard through fiscal year 2015 at levels that are fiscally responsible and that will reverse the misguided cuts proposed by the current administration. The President proposed to slash the service's acquisition budget by over 20 percent, reduce the number of servicemembers by over 1,300, undermine readiness by cutting program hours for aircraft, and jeopardize the success of the search-and-rescue mission by taking fixed-wing air aircraft crews off alert status. The President's budget request will only worsen the Coast Guard's growing gaps in mission performance, increase acquisition delays, drive up the cost of new assets, and deny our servicemembers the critical resources needed to perform their duties. H.R. 5769 authorizes sufficient funding to ensure these cuts do not happen and the service has what it needs to successfully conduct its missions. The bill also makes several reforms to the Coast Guard authorities, as well as laws governing shipping and navigation. Specifically, H.R. 5769 supports Coast Guard servicemembers by ensuring the members of the Coast Guard are offered the same benefits available to members of the other armed services. It improves Coast Guard mission effectiveness by replacing and modernizing Coast Guard assets in a cost-effective manner. It enhances oversight of the Coast Guard, reduces inefficient operations, and saves taxpayer dollars by making commonsense reforms to Coast Guard missions and administration. It helps veterans make the transition from service in the military to good-paying jobs in the maritime industry. It includes an Arctic maritime transportation title, which provides the Coast Guard the authorities it needs to successfully carry out missions in the Arctic, as well as prepare for the safe operation of commercial vessels and increased human activity in the region. It encourages job growth in the maritime sector by conducting regulatory burdens on job creators, and lastly, it reauthorizes and reforms the structure and operations of the FMC. Mr. Speaker, with respect to section 323 of the bill, it is the committee's intent that the Department of Transportation use the Web site currently operated by the Coast Guard to the greatest extent possible. The data presented on the Web site should be limited only to that required by statute and shown in a simple, easily used format. The committee does not intend to use anything other than commercial off-the-shelf technology to establish the Web site or independently develop new software or acquire new hardware in operating the site. H.R. 5769 presents a strong bipartisan and bicameral agreement. I want to thank Senators Rockefeller, Thune, Begich, and Rubio for working with us on this important legislation. I also want to thank Ranking Member Rahall and the subcommittee ranking member, Representative Garamendi, for their efforts, and Chairman Shuster for his leadership. Finally, I want to take a minute to point out that this will be the last Coast Guard authorization bill that will benefit from the advice and support of the only Member of Congress with service in the Coast Guard, our colleague and friend, Howard Coble. Howard is a Korean war veteran with 5 years of active duty in the Coast Guard and another 18 years in the Coast Guard Reserve. He is the founder of the Congressional Coast Guard Caucus, as well as an active member and former chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Throughout his career in Congress, Howard has been a tireless advocate for the men and women of the Coast Guard. I thank and commend him for this service to our Nation and for his contributions to this and past Coast Guard authorizations. I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC, December 3, 2014. Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Shuster: I write to you regarding the jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Homeland Security in H.R. 5769, the ``Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014.'' The bill contains certain provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee. In the interest of permitting the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to proceed expeditiously to the House floor, I will not seek a sequential referral of H.R. 5769. However, I do so only with the mutual understanding that the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security over matters concerning the United States Coast Guard in this or similar legislation is in no way diminished. I further request that you urge the Speaker to name Members of this Committee to any conference committee that is named to consider such provisions. Finally, I request you include this letter and your response into the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 5769 on the House floor. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, Michael T. McCaul, Chairman.

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, there are a few people I want to thank, too. I want to thank John and Jeff, who are here in this room, for the work that they have put into this. I want to thank Victoria Middleton, who is my chief of staff. This will be her last year. This is her first Coast Guard bill that we are getting done here. They have put in so much work and so much time. For myself, this is my first piece of legislation that I am going to be passing in this Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee with Mr. Garamendi. It has been a great time working with everybody. I want to thank, lastly, the men and women of the Coast Guard. They have been fantastic. They have really opened up their arms to us. We have been able to see what they do, how they do it, and what they have to do, day in and day out, for the people of this country and, frankly, people of every country. If you are on the open seas and something bad happens to you, it is going to be the U.S. Coast Guard that comes and saves you. If you are a bad guy running drugs from South America up to Florida, it is going to be a U.S. Coast Guard vessel that interdicts. I just want to thank the U.S. Coast Guard for what they do for this Nation because they are kind of the redheaded stepchild. They are a military service, but they are also a law enforcement entity. They get to do both things, and that is one of the things that makes them such a great organization. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).

Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, this bill would not have happened without the leadership of Mr. Rahall and the full committee chairman, Bill Shuster from Pennsylvania. They did a lot of work on this bill. I am honored to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).

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