Randy Hultgren

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark 5 years of overly burdensome and costly banking regulations and a failed opportunity to address fundamental problems in our economy. Leading up to 2008, a perfect storm of easy lending, pushed by Washington bureaucrats, coupled with a spider web of duplicative, conflicting, and nonsensical regulations, led to a complete breakdown of the housing market. A lack of regulation was not the problem. In fact, regulation increased in the 10 years leading up to the crisis. Community banks were faced with determining which of several regulators to answer to first. Small businesses faced ever-expanding compliance mandates, raising the cost of doing business. Yet, at the time, those in power seized on the opportunity to never let a serious crisis go to waste in order to reward regulators with much more authority. The fundamental issues of the housing crisis were never addressed. Those who put in place the policies that encouraged risky borrowing and lending were never held accountable. Instead, the Dodd-Frank Act doubled down on the misguided government policies that caused the crisis, doing nothing to stop another from happening in the future. Dodd-Frank's vast expansion of regulatory authority has not helped lift the economy or helped Americans looking to pursue opportunities for themselves and their families. It failed to end too big to fail. It failed to protect consumers who rely on the community banks in their local towns. It failed to help small businesses in search of funds to restart and rebuild. It failed to tackle much-needed housing reform. And it failed to protect Americans from a power-hungry, regulation-happy Federal Government that was bent on expanding its power. Five years later, struggling families, struggling small businesses, and struggling community banks are the collateral damage of Dodd-Frank and its thriving Washington regulators. The largest institutions have gotten larger. More than 500 community banks have failed. And the number of bank options available to consumers continues to decline due to crushing regulatory burdens. This disturbing trend must be reversed. Regulation must not be one size fits all. Banking regulators should tailor regulations for community banks, those local financial institutions that partner with families and small businesses to help strengthen our communities. Decreasing the regulatory burden will allow our Nation's financial institutions to devote more time to the needs of consumers instead of devoting more time to the whims of regulators like the CFPB. Decreasing the regulatory burden will allow local banks to create innovative financial products and services for the benefits of their customers. Even as Dodd-Frank remains in effect, I and the Financial Services Committee will continue to stand up for Americans and stand against an overreaching Federal Government. On this anniversary of the law, now is the time to recognize and to respond to Dodd-Frank's vast imperfections and to also pursue true housing reform that promotes responsible lending and borrowing. Again, I thank Chairman Hensarling for his great work, and I thank my colleagues on the Financial Services Committee.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to deplore the deeply disturbing actions of Planned Parenthood, which has no reservations about using macabre tactics to harvest the lungs, livers, heads, and hearts of aborted babies. This week, a video investigation caught the organization's senior director of medical services eagerly promoting the harvesting of such body parts, purportedly for medical research. The director said she holds a daily huddle to determine how best to obtain them from unborn children scheduled for abortion. Callously discussing a menu of aborted body parts over lunch and red wine demonstrates a new level of depravity. Planned Parenthood's damage control fails to answer two basic questions: Have their affiliates done ``better than break even'' and profited from the sale of baby body parts? And under what medical, ethical, or legal code is it okay to choose a particular abortion method to preserve particular organs for harvesting? Nothing can erase what was caught on tape. Trafficking in human body parts is a Federal offense. Planned Parenthood receives over half a billion in taxpayer dollars every year. I am calling for a stop to their inhumane practices and support the renewed congressional investigation into the organization.

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 today to draw attention to not only the human toll incurred by Nepal's earthquakes in April, but also atrocious exploitation occurring in the aftermath. Recent news reports have revealed that criminal groups, some masquerading as relief workers, are luring young girls and boys across borders into brothels in India into forced prostitution or into forced labor. Some traffickers have put a price on these young ones' lives, offering $500 per child. It is truly sickening that these criminals are using the chaos and insecurity following an earthquake that claimed 8,000 lives to steal many more vulnerable lives. The United Nations and some NGOs estimate between 12,000 and 15,000 girls are trafficked from Nepal alone. As a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, I have introduced legislation targeting the demand for sex trafficking. Those who sell and purchase these young lives must be brought to justice, and government must take action. Nepal's most vulnerable cannot and should not be forgotten.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Madam Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment, which defunds a troubling hiring test put forth by the FAA which has led to cheating and questionable hiring practices for air traffic controllers. The intent of my amendment is not to slow hiring, but to stop the FAA's use of a discredited gatekeeper hiring test. I represent more than 270 air traffic controllers in Illinois' 14th Congressional District. More than a year ago, the FAA made an inexplicable and obscure change to its longstanding hiring practices, with few details given about how the changes would be implemented and with little advance warning. Setting aside its decades-long process by which qualified Collegiate Training Initiative students and military veterans were given preference in hiring, the FAA implemented a new biographical questionnaire, or Bio Q, which contains such questions as, ``How many sports did you play in high school?'' With no way to know what a right answer is, how to improve on the test, or what their final score was, many otherwise highly qualified applicants failed, after spending countless resources and time training to become air traffic controllers. The new procedures caused the agency to divert the hiring process around highly qualified, CTI-certified trainees and experienced veterans, jeopardizing air travel safety in favor of off-the-street hires, some of whom have little experience or ambition. Since then, the FAA has been under fire following a six-month investigation which uncovered that FAA or aviation-related employees may have assisted in giving potential air traffic controller recruits special access to answers on the Bio Q to help them gain jobs with the FAA. This cheating is greatly disturbing and jeopardizes any shred of credibility of the Bio Q that it had any accurate or fair test to determine who should be an air traffic controller. Yet, we are now finding out that the cheating may run deeper than first reported, possibly with knowledge at the highest levels of the FAA. If additional FAA or aviation-related employees helped applicants cheat on the Bio Q, it is imperative that we expose those responsible and determine how widespread and systemic the misconduct is. I have urged Congress to compel the FAA to appear before the American people to get to the bottom of this troubling discovery. These investigations uncover just how discredited the Bio Q is in any hiring process. But until we get answers to these questions, like who knew about the cheating, when did they know about it, and how did they cover it up, we cannot let the FAA employ people unfairly using the highly flawed Bio Q as a gatekeeper. In addition, we still don't know what will happen to those who have either failed the Bio Q, aged out of the hiring process, or both. Disqualifying highly trained, certified graduates and military veterans because they did or did not play sports in high school is ridiculous. This amendment would restrict funding for the Bio Q, stopping its use by the FAA. When you climb into an airliner, you trust the pilot, the crew, and the air traffic controllers will keep you safe. I have introduced H.R. 1964, the Air Traffic Controllers Hiring Act of 2015, to reverse the effects of the FAA's policy, restore safety and confidence to air travel, and to make sure we have the best and brightest in our control towers. I have hopes that this legislation can move quickly through the House and have urged the Transportation Committee to hold a hearing on the bill. Now that Aviation Subcommittee Chairman LoBiondo has cosponsored the legislation, I am looking forward to the committee's consideration. Until then, this amendment will help restore some sanity back to the FAA. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), my good friend and colleague.

Mr. HULTGREN. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HULTGREN. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HULTGREN. I thank my colleague from Illinois, and I would also urge my colleagues to support this passage and to make sure that we continue to have the safest air traffic control towers in the world. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, on June 4, 1989, pro-democracy demonstrators were killed by Chinese troops while peacefully advocating for government accountability and political and economic reforms. In the aftermath, the Chinese Government arrested large numbers of protesters and their supporters, prohibited other demonstrations, expelled foreign journalists, and have prohibited discussion or remembrance of these events ever since. Today is a solemn reminder of the state of human rights in China 26 years after Tiananmen Square. Since 2011, Zhu Yufu, a Chinese democracy advocate, Christian dissident, and poet has languished in prison simply for expressing his democratic beliefs. Today, I urge his immediate and unconditional release. As part of the Defending Freedoms Project, my colleagues and I will continue to shine a light on Zhu Yufu's case and that of other prisoners of conscience. I applaud Zhu Yufu and his fellow champions of freedom for their courage. We thank them for their courage. They are not alone.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Chairman, I want to take a moment to thank the sponsor of this bill, Majority Leader McCarthy, for his great work. This is very important. I also want to thank our great chairman, Lamar Smith, who has had an unprecedented week in the House of Representatives of passing bills of innovation, advancing science. Congratulations to him as well. The space industry represents hundreds of billions of dollars in economic investment and thousands of jobs across the United States, but it is not just large companies. Cain Tubular--a small, multigenerational, family-owned business in my district--is doing the innovative work necessary for safe, weld-free condensing coils for the next generation of rocket engines. Scot Forge is another business in my district, working under an amazing employee ownership model, that is forging the heavy metal parts and casings for multiple launch systems throughout the supply chain. The space industry is an engine of economic growth throughout the country, and our opportunity to do this right is vitally necessary to maintain American competitiveness as other nations begin to catch up. That is why I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2262, the Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015. The SPACE Act facilitates a progrowth environment for the commercial space sector. It fosters a safety framework that will protect the American public, while encouraging the development of new space technologies. This will ensure America's exceptional role is maintained as the most innovative Nation in the world. This legislation also extends the current risk-sharing structure set to expire next year and requires an update on how the FAA calculates maximum probable loss associated with potential spaceflight accidents. This ensures that U.S. space companies won't be forced to go overseas to compete. The SPACE Act also establishes a legal framework for government property rights of resources obtained from asteroids, giving U.S. companies the legal assurance they need to invest in and develop in situ space resource exploration and utilization technologies. The successful exploration and use of in situ asteroid resources is an important step in humanity's development and is in the national interest of the United States. The SPACE Act helps develop the commercial space industry, ensures commercial space lawsuits are treated fairly, and allows the commercial space industry to grow like never before. For these reasons, I strongly recommend my colleagues support commercial space with a vote for the SPACE Act of 2015.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to thank my good friend and distinguished chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Chairman Smith from Texas, as well as my good friend, Congressman Lipinski from Illinois, as well as my other good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell) all for helping to bring this legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 874 will help ensure that America stays at the forefront of supercomputing technology by getting to the exascale level of computing--close to the speed of the human brain. These capabilities are vital for our national security, the economy, and, more broadly, the research capabilities of our Nation. While America and American companies are still leading the way for much of this current technology, it is important to point out that the National University of Defense Technology in China now houses the world's fastest computer. One of the Department of Energy's primary responsibilities within the National Nuclear Security Administration is the maintenance of our current nuclear stockpile. This stockpile stewardship responsibility is carried out with increasingly complex simulations as our stockpile ages. The need for improved parallelism capabilities and decreased energy requirements are spelled out in this legislation to ensure the Department carries out a targeted basic research program to overcome the most pressing needs. I would like to point out, however, that I believe, in agreement with the Secretary, that exascale is not the end point. It is just a step towards the greater goal of American leadership in this field. This legislation will ensure that the broader scientific community has access to these facilities on a competitive merit review basis. The scientific drivers and the national security responsibilities should be the primary focus for computing research, but we must also make sure that the crosscutting benefits of this research are not left at the wayside. H.R. 874 would create partnerships with universities, industry, and the national labs to conduct this research, ensuring that the Nation, as a whole, benefits from this research more quickly and efficiently. With all parties at the table, businesses will be better able to utilize the new technologies and algorithms that will result. Having the pleasure to represent the great State of Illinois, I have been able to witness how an ecosystem of innovation can best be fostered. For our Nation to reap the greatest yields from our research, our research facilities must be open to the public when it makes sense and does not interfere with the core missions of our Federal agencies and the labs. The user facilities in our national labs already serve over 30,000 researchers every year, with university researchers taking precedence over others. And other user facilities, such as the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne, Illinois, have given a tremendous research capability to industry partners, such as pharmaceutical companies, where research that once took weeks is now done in hours, with samples spending more time in overnight mail. Mr. Speaker, the computing capabilities this legislation will help bring about will similarly have tremendous application in health care and drug development. We are just now getting to the point where computer simulations are giving us higher resolution images at the molecular level than we can get with microscopes when trying to understand how diseases, our bodies, and new treatments interact. And the modeling simulations these systems make available also allow manufacturers to build better prototypes that have already been tested thousands of times virtually before they come off the line. But perhaps most importantly, these capabilities will keep America competitive on the global scale. And the graduate students and postdocs that learn on these machines will take what they know wherever they decide to go, whether it be business or the Department of Defense. He said the best form of technology transfer wears shoes. That is why I thank my colleagues for helping me bring this similar legislation to the floor again this Congress, and I recommend all my colleagues support this bill.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, before I get started, we also have several letters of support on this that I would submit for the Record. One is from the Bipartisan Policy Center on behalf of the American Energy Innovation Council; another is from Third Way. They support this bill. The final one is from the American Nuclear Society. Bipartisan Policy Center, March 24, 2015. Hon. John Boehner, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives, H-232 of the Capitol, Washington, DC. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, H-204 of the Capitol, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi: On behalf of the American Energy Innovation Council (AEIC), we write to urge the prompt consideration of H.R. 1158 Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act. Similar legislation (H.R. 5120) easily passed the House during the last Congress. The bill enjoys strong bipartisan support and was co-sponsored by both Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. The AEIC is a group of America's top business executives who came together starting in 2010 to recommend ways to promote American innovation in clean energy technology. We are united in our belief that technology innovation-- especially in energy--is at the heart of many of the central economic, national security, competitiveness, and environmental challenges facing our nation. We believe strong support for robust, public investments in energy innovation is critical to a vibrant American economy. H.R. 1158 gives the National Labs needed flexibility to enter into more effective partnerships with businesses and universities, particularly with respect to early-stage technology demonstration. We anticipate that H.R. 1158 will unlock more private investment in clean energy technology R&D, and we endorse this bill. Accelerating technology innovation is a smart investment for America's future. We look forward to working with you to once again secure House passage of this important legislation. Sincerely, Chad Holliday, Co-Chair, American Energy Innovation Council. Norm Augustine, Co-Chair, American Energy Innovation Council.

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished chairman, Mr. Smith, as well as the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter) for helping bring this legislation to the floor again this Congress. H.R. 1158, the Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act, ensures that the Department of Energy has the tools it needs to allow new startups, small businesses, universities, and the general public at large to do what they do best: react to market signals and innovate. The Federal Government and the national labs play a vital role doing the basic research needed to maintain America's position as a safe and innovative nation. Their ability to build large research tools at our user facilities is the crown jewel in our Nation's research capabilities. This is the model other nations, like China, are copying. Far too often, however, the discoveries made in our labs get stuck in the labs. This is due to a number of reasons, and this bill seeks to break down some of the barriers that make this happen. Many of these problems are also outlined in chapter three of the ``Interim Report of the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories.'' I quote from the report: ``Over 50 prior studies and reports published over the past 40 years detail shortcomings in the relationship between the DOE and its laboratories.'' It continues: They present a strikingly consistent pattern of criticism and recommendations for improvement. The committee and I have reviewed many of these prior reports, and this bill attempts to act on a few of these consistent, noncontroversial recommendations. By extending the pilot for ACT agreements within DOE, the labs are given the ability to negotiate more flexible contracts with non-Federal entities that would like to take the labs' research and turn it into viable products. Section 201 in the bill also allows researchers using Federal funds to enter into these agreements, so long as any Federal funds are used exclusively for their intended research purposes. Section 203 of the bill will continue to chip away at what many call the valley of death, what many startups never make it through because they cannot prove their concept. This section would allow DOE to use their tech transfer funds for early-stage, precommercial proof of concept demonstrations so the private sector can finally pick up technologies and develop them with private funds. This legislation would also grant to the directors of national labs the signature authority for many agreements with non- Federal entities. These are decisions that the Secretary of Energy must make under current law, meaning decisions a lab director can make over a phone call in the course of a day must weave their way through the agency's bureaucracy before it lands on the Secretary's desk. This bill also seeks to improve the Department's relationship with small businesses that can take part in the SBIR-STTR program, and it encourages the Secretary to enter into agreement with the I-Corps program at NSF. While I do understand that DOE has begun a similar pilot, called Lab Corps, I am worried that this pilot housed in EERE is so narrow in focus that it will not be applicable for most of our labs' advancement. An accelerator technology being developed for medical treatments, for instance, would not be able to access the current pilot. Section 103 of this legislation will also require DOE to undertake an honest assessment of its capabilities to authorize, host, and oversee prototype reactors at DOE sites. This is a critical issue for the United States' position as a nuclear technology leader. The United States has not hosted a new research reactor in decades, and there are not any current applications under review at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Unfortunately, the U.S. has become so risk averse that we have regulated ourselves out of business for building the concept reactors that might some day lead to commercially deployable, safer, and more efficient nuclear technologies. We are driving companies overseas. I look forward to seeing the results of this report from DOE. Our national labs have been at the cutting edge of technological development, and we must always ensure that it is in the national interest. This bill helps to ensure that is the case because a discovery lost in the labs is a discovery wasted. That is why I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 612.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Leland A. Strom for his completion of a distinguished tenure of service on the Board of the Farm Credit Administration. Leland Strom was nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December of 2006 as a Member of the Board of the Farm Credit Administration (FCA). In May of 2008. President Bush designated Mr. Strom Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, an office he held until November of 2012. He recently became the longest serving FCA board member since the three board member structure was adopted in the mid 1980's. Mr. Strom has more than 35 years of professional experience in the agriculture industry, from production and finance to local food systems and agribusiness. Throughout his career he has promoted a strong agriculture industry in his home state of Illinois, the United States, and abroad. He has traveled extensively in a variety of capacities, with a focus on promoting sustainable food production, rural development, and growing markets. He has engaged in discussions with government officials in the United States and abroad, as well as business and finance leaders. During the period following the financial crisis of 2008, Mr. Strom was frequently engaged in discussions with members of Congress and senior officials of the United States Treasury and Department of Agriculture. His leadership of the oversight of the Farm Credit System, along with his extensive knowledge of the agriculture industry, proved invaluable during the extreme market volatility which occurred during the 2008-2009 financial crisis. In his various leadership roles, Mr. Strom has been a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion for women and minorities. During his tenure, the Farm Credit Administration issued a proposed rule to identify and broaden diversity and inclusion within the Farm Credit System. Under his leadership at the Agency, FCA earned a top five placing as a ``Best Places to Work in the Federal Government'' in the small agency category awarded by the Partnership for Public Service for 2011. In his home state of Illinois. Mr. Strom worked closely with Kane County officials in helping develop a farmland preservation program, with his home farm being the first dedicated to permanent agriculture use. The County's Farmland Protection Program is the first and only funded county-based agricultural conservation easement program in Illinois. In 2011, for his efforts in protecting and managing the assets of America's agricultural industry, Mr. Strom was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Northern Illinois University. A lifelong Republican. Lee has developed an excellent reputation as an individual who is willing to work across the aisle to find consensus in resolving difficult issues. In sum, Leland Strom's contributions to the agriculture industry through his service and leadership of the Farm Credit System, have helped to make today's agriculture, one of the strongest industries in the United States and the world.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and honor a young student from Illinois' 14th Congressional District who has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service to the community. Madeline Hoskins-Cumbey of Oswego has been named one of the top honorees in Illinois by The 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in each state and the District of Columbia. Ms. Madeline Hoskins-Cumbey is being recognized for founding a nonprofit organization, along with her younger brother, that seeks to engage young people in promoting healthy eating, accessible clean water, and other essentials for healthy living. Given the challenges we face today, it is vital that we encourage and support the kind of selfless contributions that these young citizens have made. Youth volunteers like Madeline are inspiring examples to all of us, and are among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. This youth program was created by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1995 to impress upon all youth volunteers that their contributions are critically important and highly valued, and to inspire other young people to follow their example. Ms. Hoskins-Cumbey should be extremely proud to have been singled out from the thousands of dedicated volunteers who participated in this year's program. I heartily applaud Madeline for her initiative in seeking to make our community a better place to live, and for the positive impact she has had on the lives of others. She has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment that is truly extraordinary in today's world, and deserves our sincere admiration and respect. Her actions show that young Americans can--and do--play important roles in our communities, and that America's community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and honor a young student from Illinois' 14th Congressional District who has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service to the community. Brianna Carey of Geneva has been named a Distinguished Finalist in Illinois by The 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in each state and the District of Columbia. Ms. Carey is being recognized for founding a website to help teens all over the world with their emotional struggles called ``A Cutter's Guardian Angel,'' which has grown into an organization that helps those in need via social media, the internet, and community events. Given the challenges we face today, it is vital that we encourage and support the kind of selfless contributions that these young citizens have made. Youth volunteers like Brianna are inspiring examples to all of us, and are among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. This youth program was created by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1995 to impress upon all youth volunteers that their contributions are critically important and highly valued, and to inspire other young people to follow their example. Ms. Carey should be extremely proud to have been singled out from the thousands of dedicated volunteers who participated in this year's program. I heartily applaud Brianna for her initiative in seeking to make our community a better place to live, and for the positive impact she has had on the lives of others. She has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment that is truly extraordinary in today's world, and deserves our sincere admiration and respect. Her actions show that young Americans can--and do--play important roles in our communities, and that America's community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, in the past few weeks, the Islamic State has targeted religious minorities throughout the Middle East, including the Yazidis in Iraq and the 21 Coptic Christians executed in Libya. This week, ISIS has abducted more than 200 Assyrian Christians. We pray earnestly for their release and for comfort for their families. These murderers want us to tremble at their physical brutality, but an even more sinister violence is at work, a sustained and strategic campaign against religious freedom. This is the God-given freedom to hold any belief--or none at all--without coercion or reprisal. Global attention is and should be transfixed on those killed for their faith in the Middle East; yet more than three-quarters of the world's population lives under regimes that restrict belief. Our Nation's first freedom is not and should not be bound by geography or nation. We must defend religious freedom at all times and in all places, or this violent cycle will continue.

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 today on the birthday of a man whose name is synonymous with my home State of Illinois, the Land of Lincoln. It is the time of year when we remember the great deeds of our Presidents and their important actions in times of crisis. President Lincoln knew crisis. Generations note his firm resolve in the face of a ``House divided against itself''; his faithfulness in serving a country when half of it was bent and betting on his failure; and his growing faith in the ``gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us.'' Our Nation was on the verge of collapse, but he never wavered, he never tired, he never backed down from the challenge. He challenges us to rise to the ``great tasks'' before us and meet them head on.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the distinguished chairman, Chairman Smith, chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Palazzo); and also the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards) for their leadership on this important issue and for getting this bill to the floor. Human space exploration and discovery sciences are so ingrained in the American way of life that they have become emblematic of America's role as an exceptional nation. It is in our DNA as Americans to push the boundaries and frontiers of knowledge. When we continue to develop the technologies and expertise to do this, there is no way to measure the potential benefit in spinoffs that we will reap. That is why I rise today to support H.R. 810. This legislation would authorize programs within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, keeping in place our commitment for space exploration, prioritizing work on the Space Launch System, Orion, and a commercial crew system so we can carry our own astronauts to and from the space station. This legislation makes it clear that Mars is the focal point and our next step. If the administration prioritizes their activities properly, it is realistic to have a manned Mars fly-by mission in 2021. This legislation will require further examination of this mission, which I think would finally help spur NASA into the next era. Perhaps more importantly, this is the kind of mission that would get children to start dreaming about being an astronaut again. For the last few years, NASA and our space workforce have been unsure of the next mission and are struggling to stay afloat. Without a bold, long-term commitment to NASA's core mission, our workforce has been scrambling to find short-term goals to keep programs alive. We need to be doing more than this if we want our Nation to realize the full capabilities we have in space. This legislation is a step in the right direction, and that is why I urge my colleagues to support it. Thank you again to the sponsors.

Mr. HULTGREN

Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Human Trafficking Awareness Week here in the House of Representatives. I especially want to thank my good friend and colleague from Missouri, Ann Wagner, for hosting tonight's Special Order. Today, human trafficking represents a modern form of slavery. It is a crisis that victimizes 21 million people worldwide. In my home State of Illinois, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center estimates that 25,000 women and girls are exploited each year by sex traffickers. Because of its strategic location as a major transportation and commercial center, Chicago has become a major national hub for human trafficking. As a member of the Congressional Human Trafficking Task Force, we are working to coordinate the efforts of the congressional leadership and international anti-trafficking groups to punish perpetrators, rescue and bring hope to victims, and assist nations in their fight against the global epidemic of trafficking in human beings. Through legislation like that which the House will bring to the floor this week, I am pleased to see this body take critical steps to target the perpetrators of human trafficking and enhance efforts toward eradicating it. Later this week, I will be reintroducing my own bill, the Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act. Evidence suggests a clear link between the purchase of commercial sex and the prevalence of sex trafficking in a society. Where there is a robust demand for commercial sex, human trafficking as an industry and practice thrives as well. The Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act highlights this link and requires national governments to factor in their efforts to combat demand as part of their overall fight against human trafficking. Human trafficking is the most insidious of criminal enterprises. It targets the youngest and most vulnerable in society, stealing their innocence and depriving them of any hope of escaping a downward spiral of depravity and despair. Thankfully, we are all becoming increasingly aware of the extent of human trafficking and the magnitude of the effects on its victims. Through the persistent efforts of international anti-human trafficking groups, national, State, and local governments, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and dedicated individuals concerned about the communities in which they live, we have made sustained inroads towards eradicating the scourge of human trafficking. We can envision the day when human trafficking will no longer represent a blight on humanity, a day when victims will experience complete restoration. Again, I want to thank my colleague from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) for this opportunity to speak.