Bill Huizenga

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because this week marks the 27th anniversary of the Halabja chemical attacks against the Kurdish people in Iraq. On March 16, 1988, Saddam Hussein's regime created one of modern history's most barbaric crimes. He ordered his forces to drop chemical weapons, including mustard and sarin gas, on the Kurdish town of Halabja. The brutal attack, which can only be described as a crime against humanity, resulted in painful, agonizing deaths of at least 5,000 innocent men, women, and children, while leaving thousands more maimed, blinded, and otherwise permanently debilitated. More than two and a half decades later, the aftermath of this horrific atrocity is still apparent with the victims, many of whom have suffered long-term illnesses, paralysis, neurological effects, cancers, and even congenital malformations in children to this day. Since these atrocities, the Kurds have done a remarkable job of rebuilding. Today, the Kurds are one of America's most steadfast allies. Peshmerga forces continue to shoulder immense burdens while seeking to defeat and destroy our mutual enemy ISIS. As a uniquely democratic and stable haven amidst a region more often marked by instability and authoritarian rule, Kurdistan also hosts almost 1.6 million Internally Displaced Persons and refugees, including Christians, Yezidis, and other religious minorities. Today, we remember the unconscionable attack on Halabja, but we also celebrate the achievements and will of the Kurdish people to move forward.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the distinguished House majority leader.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Mrs. Roby), who is the lead cosponsor of this legislation.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this very important bill, H.R. 431, a bipartisan bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the foot soldiers, the courageous men and women who participated in historic days such as Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, and the final March from Selma to Montgomery to ensure voting rights for African Americans. Mr. Speaker, sometimes, it is hard for people in today's society to realize the historical significance of the events that took place in the past. For younger people, it may seem like a lifetime ago, but for those who lived through those experiences, it may seem like it just happened yesterday. One series of events that we cannot and must not allow to fade away are the historic marches that began in Selma in the spring of 1956. On March 7, 1965, led by two fearless men, the Reverend Hosea Williams and a man many in this Chamber know well, Representative John Lewis, 500 of those brave foot soldiers determined to have their voices heard and their right to vote be recognized as they bravely lined up at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. These initial marchers were then brutally assaulted and beaten by Alabama State troopers as they attempted to cross the bridge, seeking to assert their constitutional right to vote. That atrocity became known as Bloody Sunday. Two days later, nearly 2,500 foot soldiers, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., peacefully assembled and again attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The group marched to where the attacks occurred a few days before on Bloody Sunday, and at Dr. King's request, they stopped and knelt in prayer. Following the prayer, the marchers turned around and returned to Selma. Finally then, on March 21, under the protection of the U.S. Army, Federal marshals, and the federalized Alabama National Guard at that point, that group had swollen to 8,000 foot soldiers who were escorted safely for 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery. By the time the march reached the steps of the State capitol, that group had grown to approximately 25,000 people strong there on those steps in Montgomery. Mr. Speaker, instead of bringing the campaign to search for voting rights to a halt, 50 years ago, the photographs and blurry television images of that violent attack on Bloody Sunday on that bridge galvanized the national attention. In fact, the first march was a catalyst for action. Just 5 short months after the first march, Congress had passed and President Johnson had signed into law the Voting Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, we, as a Nation, must do more to ensure voting rights are protected for all Americans, and in doing so, we must remember the sacrifices of those individuals who came before us and worked so tirelessly to make a difference and to create voting rights equality. It is truly a privilege for me personally to stand before you today as Congress recognizes these brave men and women and the historical significance of those marches that began in Selma and forever changed the direction of our great Nation. I thank the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for highlighting these historic events, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 431. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials into the Record concerning H.R. 431, currently under consideration.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 431) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Foot Soldiers who participated in Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, or the final Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March in March of 1965, which served as a catalyst for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Ross), a member of the Committee on Financial Services, which has been dealing with this issue.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time at this moment.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. To my friend, it is amazing to me today the irony as we talk about the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a man who served as the grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama, who just 100 years ago was serving in the U.S. Senate, and to have that be a symbol and discussed in the same breath as a man like John Lewis and Martin Luther King and so many others and in that short 50 years for us, even though we may be of a different political persuasion, for me to be here and witness the first African American to be President of these United States, what an amazing journey this has been. Gone are the poll taxes, gone are the reading and history tests, gone are a number of those legal impediments and formal legal impediments that were there both in the North and in the South that dictated to someone where they could or couldn't live. What has not gone--I am struck by this time and time again--is sin and hatred in human hearts. As C.S. Lewis talks about in his book ``Mere Christianity,'' by means of laws, a man can attempt to change a man's actions, but they will not succeed without a change to those men's hearts. I think that is our legacy. I think that is our duty as Americans, and I think that is part of what we are doing here today--to honor, to recognize, and to celebrate, knowing that the journey is not done necessarily, knowing that we have other areas where we need to work on this as a society, but knowing that progress has been made. It is truly an honor to be a part of this with you as well, my friend. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. I have no interest in politicizing this great bipartisan Gold Medal act that we currently have before us. And let's not turn this important act into a debate that will be, frankly, held in the Judiciary Committee, rather than on the House floor. We know that the Voting Rights Act--being a man who represents a significant part of Gerald R. Ford's congressional district, it was men like him that were hand-in-hand, arm-in-arm with those in that movement that helped create the original Voting Rights Act. And I know that this body can rise again to do the right thing and move forward in a bipartisan manner. With that, Mr. Speaker, recognizing that the other side has numerous requests for time on this bill, particularly from the Congressional Black Caucus, I ask unanimous consent that 7 minutes of the majority's time be transferred and placed under the control of my good friend and colleague from Alabama (Ms. Sewell), who is the Democratic manager.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding three missed votes due to inclement weather on Monday, February 2, 2015. Had I been present for roll call vote number 51, H.R. 361, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act, I would have voted ``yay.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 52, H.R. 615, the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act, I would have voted ``yay.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 53, H.R. 623, the Social Media Working Group Act of 2015, I would have voted ``yay.''

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise and discuss this issue briefly. It just came to me last week when my 13-year-old daughter turned 14 and I looked at her and have seen her with her friends, just the scourge, the horrendous things that are done to these young ladies, whether it is here or internationally. I was brought back to a visit I had last year to an organization called WAR, Women At Risk International, in my district, the Second District of Michigan, where they are trying to use civilian first responders to identify those signs of trafficking to make sure that those aren't those police reports saying ``minor returned to parent'' and that they are able to utilize the things that they see or suspect as a way of pulling those girls out of those situations. It is heartfelt that I want to make sure that this body pursues this issue, and I commend all of our colleagues who have dealt with this as we are trying to create these circles of protection and hope around these women and children that are in this horrible situation. Madam Speaker, I commend everybody for this legislation, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. I appreciate my friend from New Jersey yielding me this time, and I rise today to join my colleagues and thousands of Americans who will be marching on Washington, D.C., tomorrow because every life truly is a gift, which is this year's Right to Life march theme. It has been talked about, the millions of young lives that have been tragically cut short. But I, like my colleague and our friend from Kansas, who was just talking about his personal experience with adoption, I come from a place in western Michigan that has really embraced the notion of adoption. We have a number of friends and neighbors who have done both domestic and international adoption. In fact, one family is now on their third adoption from Africa, and this time they are coming home with a brother and sister for four kids, adding to their own natural five that they have. And I must add that, a little jokingly, we are not Catholic typically in western Michigan, we are just passionate Protestants. We are wanting to share that gift of life and opportunity for those children who have that potential that their parents see and go through a difficult decision to put them up, and whether it is domestically or internationally, we are so pleased that they have done that. It is also why, because life being so precious, why my wife, Natalie, and I have been active through our church and Michigan Right to Life, and my wife particularly through the Lakeshore Pregnancy Center, a crisis pregnancy center that she has been on the board of for a number of years that is helping young men and women make those difficult choices in those difficult life circumstances. I understand, and I know my colleagues know this as well. This is very difficult. It is very emotional. These are issues that have affected so many of us. As we deal with difficult circumstances where these pregnancies have arisen, whether it is through rape or through mistakes that have been made to have these unplanned pregnancies, I think we need to show that love and that mercy that we have been shown at various times in our life. I do want to encourage my colleagues in the House, though, to take a close look at a loophole, an issue that I became aware of a couple of years ago. Over the previous two Congresses, I introduced something called the Homeland Security Respect For Life Act and worked with my friend and Appropriations member, Representative Aderholt, to attach language to the annual Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. This commonsense bill simply prevents hardworking taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions through the DHS programs that currently would fund abortions for detainees who lack lawful status here in the United States. In fact, this bill codifies pro-life language that is already found in the ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, manual on detention standards. But since this manual lacks a basis in law and the weight of law, it can be changed at any time by unelected bureaucrats. Well, I think it is time for us to put the DHS in line with other departments of the government and codify this and make sure that this is crystal clear. Our current policy prohibits Federal taxpayer funding for abortions for law-abiding citizens on Medicaid, as well as citizens who are in Federal prison, why not the DHS and why not in these detention areas? It only makes sense to apply those same life-affirming standards to immigration detainees as well. This is an easy fix, Mr. Chairman, and I am hopeful that this year the Senate and the President will agree to our bill language and follow the precedent as consistent with current administration policy in the other Federal agencies. I, too, want to say thank you for your leadership in this area and appreciate the opportunity to spend some time on the floor.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I, too, share my friend from Wisconsin's frustration at this. This is sort of like saying we are going to have a cookie that is getting baked here on the House floor and our friends across the aisle approve of the eggs, they approve of the butter, they approve of the sugar, and they approve of the chocolate clips, but they don't want the final product. I am confused as to why we cannot put all these ingredients together and get this done finally. The American people are begging us to get this work done. That is why I rise today, Mr. Speaker: to support H.R. 37. Part of that bill has my bill from the last Congress, H.R. 2274. Excessive and unnecessary regulations have been hurting our economy, increasing costs to consumers and investors, reducing wage growth, and restricting access to private sector capital that our Nation's job creators need in order to grow the economy and create jobs. This unanimously passed bipartisan legislation is a compilation of commonsense regulatory relief bills that have been carefully crafted to help grow the economy for Main Street and not from Washington, D.C. My bill actually is part of that. Eleven of these bills have previously been passed by this very body or at the Financial Services Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support. In fact, my bill idea came not from anybody on Wall Street, not from anybody in Washington, D.C., but from a mergers and acquisitions lawyer back in my district in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who said: We've been struggling with this problem and we need some help because we cannot get the SEC to move on this. So that is why I put together the Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act, and this has been kindly rolled into this larger package. It has been estimated that approximately $10 trillion of privately owned, small family-owned-type businesses will be sold or, worse yet, closed in the coming years as baby boomers retire. I don't think any of us would think that that is a good thing. Mergers and acquisitions brokers play a critical role in facilitating the transfer of these smaller privately held companies. Who benefits? Small communities and the workers that they employ and that live in those areas. This bipartisan provision would create a simplified system for brokers performing services in connection with the transfer of ownership of these smaller privately held companies. In today's highly charged political environment, however, it is hard because it would be nice to show the American people that we have positive, effective initiatives that should be passed.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. ``But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a State, or the Members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.''

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding a missed vote on December 10, 2014. Had I been present for roll call vote number 560, H.R. 1204, on the motion to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment for the Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act of 2014, I would have voted ``yay.''

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable James M. Batzer and his commendable service to Benzie and Manistee counties as a Circuit Court Judge. Judge Batzer served West Michigan as a circuit court judge for 30 years. His commitment to the people of West Michigan has been exemplified through his long and illustrious career. After graduating from Wayne State University with his Juris Doctor, Judge Batzer chose to remain in Michigan to practice. Before his election to the 19th Circuit Court, Judge Batzer worked a number of different jobs helping Michigan's youth. From 1968-1975, he served as a Children's Protective Services Worker as well as a Juvenile Delinquency Case Worker. He then went on to become a Teaching Fellow at the Detroit College of Law, where he taught legal research and writing to first- year law students. In 1979, Judge Batzer served as an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Michigan as well. Judge Batzer was later elected to the 19th Judicial Circuit Court on January 1, 1985. Judge Batzer has proven his dedication to the courts of Michigan throughout his career, and he has been a respected and prominent figure in the law community. From 1989-1995, he served as a Member of the State Bar Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions, and he served as Chair of the committee from 1993-1995. He has also been a member of the Northwest Michigan Community Corrections Advisory Board from 1989-2010. Judge Batzer was later named as one of the least reversed trial court judges in criminal cases in Michigan by the Detroit Free Press, and was also profiled by the college textbook, Criminal Justice in America. Judge Batzer stands as a shining example of the Michigan Judicial System. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Judge James Batzer for his service to the state of Michigan.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Gregory C. Pittman and his commendable service to Michigan's Western District as a Muskegon County Probate Judge. After graduating from Michigan State University with his Bachelor's Degree, Judge Pittman went to Indiana University to obtain his Juris Doctor. After receiving his law degree, he returned to his birthplace in Muskegon, Michigan. On January 6, 1998, Governor John Engler appointed Judge Pittman to the Muskegon County Probate Bench. Judge Pittman has now served the Muskegon County Court System for 16 years, and he currently serves as the presiding Judge of the Muskegon County Family Court. Judge Pittman also promotes the strengthening of Michigan families, and in 2001, was awarded the Michigan Family Forum's Champion of the Family award. Throughout his career, Judge Pittman has been committed to serving his community, and this has led to him being active in many educational, social, and civic organizations. He has served as the President of the Muskegon Heights Public Schools Board of Trustees, as well as a Trustee of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District. Judge Pittman currently serves his community in many other ways as well. He is a member of the Hackley Hospital Board of Trustees, and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County Board of Trustees. Judge Pittman is also a Fellow of the Michigan Bar Association Foundation. For all of his work and commitment, on November 22, 2014, Judge Pittman will be receiving the Living Legends Award at the Muskegon BEAT Awards Ceremony. I want to congratulate Judge Pittman for receiving such a prestigious reward, and thank him for his service to Muskegon County and the state of Michigan.

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding a missed vote on November 17, 2014. Had I been present for roll call vote number 520, H.R. 5162, to amend the Act entitled ``An Act to allow a certain parcel of land in Rockingham County, Virginia, to be used for a child care center'' to remove the use restriction, and for other purposes, I would have voted ``yay.''

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan

Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because this coming Saturday, November 22, is designated as National Adoption Day. Each year, thousands of families navigate a complicated and expensive adoption process and welcome a much-wanted child into their families and into their lives. This Saturday, we will recognize, honor, and say ``thank you'' to these families. We will also raise awareness of the over 100,000 children who are currently in the foster care system who have not found permanent homes or a permanent family to belong to. Sadly, 32 percent of these children will wait over 3 years in foster care before being adopted. Globally, estimates are that there are 153 million orphans. U.S. families have adopted more than 7,000 of these children in 2013, but that is just the start. It may feel and appear to be overwhelming, but we can make a difference one child at a time. I am proud to report that adoption rates in west Michigan, my hometown area, are among the highest in the country. Since the beginning of 2014, just one west Michigan adoption agency alone has processed 38 domestic infant adoptions, 26 intercountry adoptions, and helped many others. We want to say thank you to them for their work.