Randy Hultgren

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4377) to direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out certain upgrades to research equipment and construct research user facilities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4377, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge support for H.R. 4377, the Accelerating American Leadership in Science Act. This legislation is another key component in today's package of bills that maintains the American commitment to the basic scientific research necessary to advance our economy and maintain our national defense. I commend Chairman Smith for his work on these bills and his support for the underlying bill. I also thank my colleagues from Illinois for their bipartisan support of this legislation, as well as the ranking member for her support. The Department of Energy operates and maintains a number of user facilities open to the broader research community which no one university or business could ever bring together. I have seen firsthand in Illinois the impact of these kinds of investments that they provide to the American public. It was at Fermilab that the magnets were developed for the modern MRI machines we have all taken advantage of, and this was just an unintended by-product of basic scientific research by physicists trying to examine the smallest building blocks of matter. This legislation authorizes funding for the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility, going between Fermilab and the Sanford Lab in Lead, South Dakota, more than a mile underground. This project is an important milestone in American science, serving as the first major internationally hosted facility in the United States. Having already gained the support of more than 1,000 scientists from 30 different countries, this is a successful model for how large science will be done in the future. Not only have we gained the support of the broader scientific community, but we have seen the investment from CERN for the first time outside of their lab, and the U.K. has already pledged $88 million to be a part. When America chooses to lead in these scientific fields, we bring the world with us and remain the single location for the best and brightest to continue doing their groundbreaking work. It has been inspirational just to be a part of this process. This legislation also authorizes funding for upgrades at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Lab. I have had the pleasure to see the work happening at this lab, which my two colleagues and cosponsors from Illinois represent. The Advanced Photon Source is the premier facility for X-ray science in the United States. Nearly 6,000 researchers access this facility every year to do the kind of research that cannot be done at university campuses or industrial research facilities. Every year, more than 1,000 researchers from Illinois alone access this facility. With the wide-ranging applications for this facility, research coming from APS has led to two Nobel Prizes in chemistry and new treatments for HIV. The work they are contributing on to better understand the materials for new batteries are chipping away at the energy storage advancements we need for newer, zero-emission energy sources to reliably come online. These are the success stories we should be championing in Congress, and these are the kinds of results I want to continue seeing for future generations here in the United States. Another facility which this legislation authorizes upgrades for is the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Spallation Neutron Source. Similar to the two previous projects, this has received unanimous support from the research community with the DOE's Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee calling these upgrades ``absolutely central to contribute to world-leading science.'' With the most intense pulsed neutron beam in the world, the Spallation Neutron Source will continue probing material properties at the atomic level so that we can build better materials, with uses from better batteries, more target cures, to cleaner water. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the distinguished chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber), the chairman of the Energy Subcommittee.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I again want to reiterate my support for this important legislation to keep the United States at the forefront of discovery and fundamental research. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support. I encourage passage of H.R. 4377, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), my good friend. I appreciate his work on this and for calling this Special Order together tonight. Once again, it is the time of year where I have the somber privilege to come to the floor and extend happy birthday wishes to Chinese human rights defender and prisoner of conscience, Zhu Yufu. What should be an occasion for celebration remains marred by the fact that, on February 13, Zhu Yufu will spend his 65th birthday in a Chinese prison. This will mark his seventh consecutive birthday behind bars, another birthday separated from his family and children. Although isolated, Zhu is certainly not forgotten. He has been a fervent champion for human rights in China for decades. He gives voice to a very fundamental and foundational principle: all people everywhere should have the basic freedom to determine the course of their lives and express themselves according to their convictions without fear of government repression. For living out that conviction, he languishes in a Chinese prison in poor health and with irregular access to medical care. Stifling voices like Zhu's does not silence their cry nor weaken their cause. On the contrary, it shines a light on their plight and renews and strengthens the effort to end repression and injustice in China, as well as in other places around the world. As long as Zhu Yufu remains incarcerated, I will continue to call upon the Chinese Government to provide him with sufficient food, care, and medical attention, and I will continue to call on the Chinese Government to release Zhu Yufu from prison. In honor of Zhu Yufu, I would like to read a short poem that he wrote, and it was this poem that led to his arrest and imprisonment. I quote from his poem: It's time, people of China! It's time. The Square belongs to everyone. With your own two feet, it's time to head to the Square and make your choice. It's time, people of China! It's time. A song belongs to everyone. From your own throat. It's time to voice the song in your heart. It's time, people of China! It's time. China belongs to everyone. Of your own will, it's time to choose what China shall be. Zhu, you are not forgotten. Happy birthday, and may God grant you the strength and His presence and the hope that you will celebrate your next birthday in freedom.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Hensarling for his continued work on this, and I also want to thank my colleague and friend from Missouri, Blaine Luetkemeyer, for his important work on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a cosponsor on this legislation because it is an important bill for regional banks in Illinois, but also around the country. The Financial Services Committee has spent a significant amount of time debating which banks should qualify as so-called community banks and regional banks when determining how to legislate regulatory relief. I have to agree that, as a bank starts getting larger, it starts looking less and less like a community bank. But both Republicans and Democrats have agreed that asset size should not be the sole characteristic for determining a bank's riskiness to the financial system. There are a number of banks that have successfully made use of the traditional community bank business model of deposit taking and lending that have grown in size. Some have grown substantially, and now they are able to serve more than one community. Congress should not punish these financial institutions with an asset threshold that even Congressman Barney Frank described as arbitrary. Our policies should encourage low-risk relationship lending so communities can benefit from institutions of different sizes. At a minimum, we should provide the banking regulators some flexibility to determine which institutions with assets over $50 billion pose higher risk to the financial system. In addition to the outstanding community banks in my district, my constituents also look to regional banks like BMO and Discover when they are trying to find best rates on mortgages, car loans, credit cards, or their student loans. Discover Financial Services, which has its headquarters just outside my district in Riverwoods, Illinois, has a simple business model that includes credit cards, student loans, home equity lending, and a number of deposit products that you would expect from a Main Street financial institution. This is the only business Discover is in. Nothing they do is comparable to what you might see in one of the big money center banks. So why did Congress mandate that this bank be automatically designated as systemically important? The current law is arbitrary and subjects banks to the same standards as trillion-dollar global systemically important institutions. Automatically designating these institutions as systemically important unnecessarily increases the cost of lending and makes it more difficult for my constituents to achieve their financial goals. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act of 2017.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am grateful to Congressman LaHood for hosting this, pulling this together, and it really is a great beginning of an anticipation of celebration for the next year's bicentennial of the statehood of my home, Illinois. Tonight, we are mentioning just a few things that make Illinois such a great State, and I look forward to continuing to highlight many more important facts, figures, stories, and pieces of history about the Prairie State and, more specifically, about the 14th Congressional District throughout 2018, all the way up until our 200th birthday on December 3, 2018. Illinois is the breadbasket that feeds the Nation and the world. Our State enjoys a global city with world class transportation hubs and small towns filled with the hardworking Americans who make this country what it is. The suburbs of Chicago, where I grew up, are opportunity- filled and family friendly. I was born in Illinois, grew up in Illinois, and am proud to be raising my family in Illinois. By the way, for the record, just to set it clear, it is Illinois, not Illi-noise--phonetic--so we just make sure that is out there. I am so proud to represent the 14th Congressional District, the Fox River Valley, the Chain O'Lakes, and so many dozens and dozens of wonderful small- and medium-sized towns that, again, are the heartbeat of Illinois and the heartbeat of this Nation. Tonight, I also would like to take a moment, as has already been done, to highlight a special giant that hovers over our State, Honest Abe himself. As a history buff, especially Illinois history, I cannot emphasize enough the impact that Abraham Lincoln has had on our State and also on our Nation and our world. While he wasn't born in Illinois, his formative years were spent there, and no doubt our State helped shape his vision for what America was meant to be. His moral leadership, his persistent fight against the evils of slavery, his ability to bring diverse coalitions of people to unify the country, all this and more is why we have proudly called Illinois the land of Lincoln. So, again, it is a great honor and privilege for me to be able to be with my great colleagues, bipartisan, celebrating our State that we are so proud of, and we are looking forward to these next 12 months of ongoing celebration of the great State of Illinois.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Batavia High School Bulldogs football team on winning the Illinois Class 7A State Championship. Holding off the undefeated Lake Zurich Bears and winning the thrilling final in overtime, the team ended the season with an overall 13 and 1 record. Crucial to the victory was quarterback Riley Cooper. The senior completed 28 of 42 passes for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns in the championship game. The final score was a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Stuttle in overtime, securing the 21-14 win at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb. Leading the team throughout a great regular season and playoff run was Coach Dennis Piron, who has headed the team since 2010, and who is a 1983 Batavia graduate. This is the school's first State championship since 2013. Students who cheered their siblings and friends on the 2013 Bulldogs team are now carrying the torch and celebrating their own victory as members of the 2017 team. Congratulations, Batavia Bulldogs, past and present, for your achievements. Your success is well deserved.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Prairie Ridge Wolves football team on their second straight Class 6A State Championship. The team repeated last year's outstanding performance of finishing the season without losing a single game. Beating the Nazareth Roadrunners in the State final 28-21, the team now has a 28 game winning streak. Their last loss was in 2015. The team is ranked second in the State overall by the Chicago Tribune. Coach Chris Schremp has been a critical and central figure in their success. A 21-year veteran at Prairie Ridge High School, he was named IHSA Football Coach of the Year and is now competing for the national recognition. Another crucial part of the team is quarterback Samson Evans. He had a fantastic season. Dubbed ``Superman'' for his exploits on the field, Evans was named the Chicago Sun-Times 2017 Player of the Year. He will continue his career as an Iowa Hawkeye alongside teammate and lineman Jeff Jenkins. Congratulations, Prairie Ridge Wolves, for your excellent season, and here is to a continued undefeated winning streak.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate McHenry County College on their 50 years of service to our community and State. Since April 1967, MCC administration, faculty, staff, and trustees have demonstrated unparalleled commitment to their students through quality degree and certificate programs. Through the college, the community is provided a diverse and relevant array of enrichment and lifelong learning opportunities; everything from advanced manufacturing, engineering, and healthcare to fine arts, the humanities, continuing education and training, and everything in between. I commend the college, led by President Dr. Clint Gabbard, for its continued focus on student success, innovation, and contribution toward the community's economic development. True to its goal of student success, the college has been ranked among the top 150 community colleges in the Nation and scores in fourth place in the State for student success rates and affordability. From visiting and hosting numerous congressional events at MCC, I am always impressed by the extraordinary efforts and commitment of McHenry County College faculty and staff. Congratulations, McHenry County College, on your 50th anniversary.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Jean Gaines for her 40 years of service at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, most recently as their president. Under her leadership, the chamber has grown substantially, to the benefit of our community and to the State of Illinois. To those who know Jean Gaines, she is described as intelligent, alert, and fun-loving, a good mix of qualities to steer the board of directors through many challenges. Through hard work, she has developed multiple festivals and business activities, including the Festival of the Vine and the opening of the Geneva Visitor Center. Her contributions have made the chamber of commerce a vibrant organization and a model for many other chambers throughout the State of Illinois and throughout the country. Her family has also had a hand in the chamber's success. Her husband, John; daughter, Kristine; son-in-law, Jerry Holtz; son, Mark; and grandsons, Jack and Luke Holtz, have all worked in countless events in their support of our local business community. Jean, congratulations on 40 great years of service. Your hard work helps American business succeed, and we are grateful.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate 50 years of community service rendered by the United Way of Greater McHenry County. Members of the community came together in the fall of 1966, with the primary purpose of raising funds in order to help deserving organizations achieve their goals. In that first year alone, United Way raised more than $21,000. This money went to funding organizations such as the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross, which remain faithful partners today. By 1977, the United Way's importance was rapidly increasing throughout the community, as they created new partnerships with several agencies. In fact, the United Way of Greater McHenry County became the fastest growing United Way of its size in the country. During their 25th anniversary year, they delivered more than $1.1 million to local organizations and have continued that record over the years. I am grateful to celebrate this 50-year milestone with the people of United Way of Greater McHenry County as they continue to help our neighbors help each other.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Multiple scientific studies indicate that, by 20 weeks after fertilization, an unborn child's brain and nervous system have developed sufficiently for that child to feel pain. The United States stands among only a handful of nations that permit elective abortions after 20 weeks. It should pain us all that we fall into the same camp as North Korea and China. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act will moderate our extreme position and ensure we protect the most vulnerable, like Micah Pickering, a lively 5-year-old I met last week. Micah was born prematurely at the same age children would be protected under H.R. 36. Micah was able to survive and thrive after spending nearly 4 months in the neonatal intensive care unit. He is now in kindergarten, and I found out when talking to him that we share a love of Legos. The bottom line is this: 20 weeks is halfway through a pregnancy. It is too late to end the life of an unborn baby. It violates what Americans want, it violates science, and it violates our country's most enduring values. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of Micah's Law, H.R. 36.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I commend the sponsors of this legislation, Bob Latta and Jan Schakowsky, and the Energy and Commerce Committee for their work on H.R. 3388, the SAFE DRIVE Act. The development of ``self-driving'' vehicles has the potential to make a quantum leap in road safety and access to transportation. The SAFE Drive Act begins the important process of developing the regulatory framework for this new technology. As Congress continues its work in this area, it is important that we make sure that the new regulatory landscape works well for all stakeholders. Accordingly, I would like to highlight some issues that we need to continue to be mindful of because of their impact on insurers. Clearly, for automated driving technology to fully develop, insurers are an important component for managing the associated risks. Highly automated vehicles hold great promise for reducing the number of deaths and accidents on our nation's roads as well as providing increased mobility for those who are not able to drive due to age or disability. This transition to ``self-driving'' vehicles will take place over many years during which these vehicles will interact, and sometimes collide with, vehicles driven by humans. Our legal system has a vast amount of experience apportioning liability after auto accidents, but that task could be made more difficult if access to data (including photos or video) generated by automated vehicles involved in accidents is restricted. As such, vehicle owners should have primary control over vehicle data from highly automated vehicles. Automated vehicle data must be made available to the parties involved, their insurers and authorized representatives on reasonable terms. State and federal governments should not set limits on access to vehicle data by law or regulation that could delay compensation to accident victims and increase automobile insurance costs, nor should vehicle manufacturers be permitted to limit access. to vehicle data. For any vehicle, safety issues are paramount. While automated vehicle technology has the potential to greatly reduce crashes, it is unlikely to eliminate them entirely. Therefore, maintaining existing standards for vehicle crash protection for automated vehicles is essential. Granting of exceptions should only be considered through an evidence based approach and should not be rushed--automated driving capabilities do not necessarily guarantee improved safety. Again, I commend my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their work on this legislation. I look forward to supporting it and to continuing to work towards achieving the objectives I have outlined.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today full of sorrow and hope for those caught in the cycle of addiction to heroin and opioids. This destructive plague is taking aim at Americans across the country--young and old, rich and poor, rural and urban. Nowhere is this more true than in the Chicagoland area, a hub for drug trafficking spreading across northern Illinois, the Midwest, and the United States. The collar counties of Chicago have felt it strongly. This year, in Will County alone, there have been 61 accidental overdose cases and 44 deaths from heroin and fentanyl overdoses. This is an extremely discouraging pace, surpassing previous years. The numbers are similar across the seven counties that I represent in the 14th Congressional District. Stories have been long untold, and it continues to gain national attention. It still haunts our communities today. I got involved in this issue more than 3 years ago when I met Ken Chiakas, who lost his 17-year-old daughter Stephanie to a heroin overdose. Together, we launched our community action plan on heroin, an analysis of our community leadership forum on the problem, an audit of existing and proposed community partnerships, and the next steps for our communities, our State, and our county. In the years following this initiative, I have hosted meetings with law enforcement officers, treatment center workers, advocates for patients and lost loved ones, State and local government officials, emergency room physicians, pharmacists, and drug manufacturers. Last month, my staff and I traveled throughout McHenry and Lake Counties to hear from local officials firsthand who are experiencing this plague every single day. Law enforcement first responders are on the front lines fighting drug traffickers and dealers. They are also saving lives by reviving abusers in the midst of an overdose through the use of naloxone. It is now common practice in these police and sheriff's departments to have naloxone ready to be deployed in the hands of capable and trained officers. Many lives have now been spared through its use But even these encouraging numbers do not tell the whole story. Countless others live and struggle to fight heroin and opioid abuse every day in search of treatment and battling towards recovery. They know what it is like to face an overwhelming force controlling their lives. It affects their relationships, it affects their outlook on life, it affects their ability to obtain and keep quality jobs. Local officials expressed great concern at the loss of workforce, and the many months and years of career advancement and experience those caught in addiction have lost. Businesses are concerned by their search for qualified workers that doesn't yield enough or any applicants. Families are concerned that, without adequate outpatient treatment, their loved ones are far more likely to relapse, compounding these workforce and community problems. That is why, among other programs, Lake County law enforcement has worked hard to implement the ``A Way Out'' program. Police officers and sheriffs' deputies come into regular contact with those caught in heroin and opioid abuse, sometimes seeing the same offenders in police stations and prisons several times a month. Many of these men and women want to be free but don't know how, and a police officer is the last person they think to ask for help. A Way Out empowers police officers and opioid users to work together to end the destructive cycle of abuse, dependency, arrest, and relapse. The program is simple. Those who seriously want help can ask for it from a police officer or at a police station and can receive help without fear of arrest or inability to pay for treatment. Officers who see the destruction of opioids every day want to help. All that is required is for the person seeking treatment to choose the path of recovery. Individual motivation is essential to success. As of last summer, 15 people at 8 different police departments have taken advantage of this initiative. Similarly, DuPage County launched Project Connect, a prearrest program through which individuals who have been administered Narcan are immediately offered treatment options and a case manager to see these men and women through to recovery. I am so encouraged by and proud of the success stories I hear throughout the 14th Congressional District every day. Hope is near when those in recovery see a vision of what their life can be like after dependency--a life filled with healthy relationships, challenging and meaningful work, and a clear sense of individual purpose. We must do all we can to offer this hope to those still suffering from heroin and opioid addiction. Connecting affected individuals with the people and organizations best equipped to help them is paramount to overcoming this devastating epidemic. It remains my goal to make northern Illinois the hub of the best minds and the best practices in heroin and opioid abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery. I look forward to sharing these best practices and recommendations across other congressional districts and the communities that we are here to serve, and ultimately to see lives saved.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. 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 the bill.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3110, the Financial Stability Oversight Council Insurance Member Continuity Act. I am proud to sponsor this legislation, which is a technical, but extremely important, correction to the Dodd-Frank Act. I am very grateful for the support of my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee for helping advance this bill. I especially want to thank Ranking Member Waters, the lead cosponsor. In fact, we were able to unanimously report this bill out of committee 60 votes to zero when it was marked up in July. The bill amends the Dodd-Frank Act to allow the Financial Stability Oversight Council's independent member with insurance expertise to remain a voting member of the council beyond his or her term until a successor is appointed. The extended term would conclude at the earlier of either 18 months or until Senate confirmation of a successor. The Financial Stability Oversight Council, or FSOC, was created as part of the Dodd-Frank Act. The general purpose of this regulatory body is to provide a forum for discussion of our financial markets and coordination of financial regulations when appropriate. Under existing law, the 10 voting members of the FSOC include an independent member with insurance expertise who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The independent member is the only member appointed by the President to specifically serve on the council and is the only voting member which is expected to have insurance expertise. Dodd-Frank established a 6-year term for the independent member whose term expires on September 30, 2017. Absent the appointment and confirmation of a successor, the expiration of the independent member's term would leave the council without a voting member who has insurance expertise because Dodd-Frank did not make clear if the position can be filled by an acting official. My legislation is about ensuring that the FSOC is able to benefit from the perspective of a voting member with insurance expertise without any unnecessary lapses, or to quote a letter that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners sent to the ranking member and me: ``It is important that the council have members that have a deep understanding of the unique aspects of the insurance industry and our State-based insurance regulatory system.'' I couldn't agree more. In the case of Illinois, we have a very robust insurance market because of the carefully crafted regulatory system we have developed. This allows great companies to thrive and protects the interests of their policyholders. This might not be the case if the FSOC lacks sufficient understanding of our insurance markets and regulatory system. What was not intended by Dodd-Frank is for the position to be vacant while the President and Senate work to confirm a new appointee. Other voting positions on the FSOC have the benefit of somebody being able to serve in an acting capacity until someone new is confirmed. In fact, the Dodd-Frank Act clearly states that positions on the FSOC can be filled by someone in an acting capacity. My legislation would simply bring continuity with other FSOC voting members. This is especially timely given that the term of the individual currently filling this position, Roy Woodall, ends on September 30 of this year. Since President Trump has not yet announced who should fill this role, and given that the Senate will not likely have sufficient time to react between now and the end of September, we must have this signed into law without delay. I understand that the Senate Banking Committee will be marking up companion legislation later this week, and I am hopeful it can quickly advance through this Chamber and the Senate Chamber so that this technical issue can be resolved before the end of Mr. Woodall's term. I again would like to thank Ranking Member Waters and all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working with me. I urge support of this noncontroversial legislation, and I am hopeful it can move swiftly to the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I echo much of what my good friend from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) has said. Again, I want to thank the ranking member for her work on this legislation with me. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1616) to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Bob Dole, in recognition for his service to the nation as a soldier, legislator, and statesman.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes).