George Holding

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Mrs. Pota Vurnakes Vallas. Mrs. Vallas grew up in Krissafa, Greece, a small village near Sparta, where she was born in 1908. Her father, Gus Vurnakes, immigrated to the United States in 1924 and brought Pota, who was the eldest of the ten Vurnakes' children, with him. It was at that time, Mr. Speaker, that Pota's father put her to work assisting him at the California Fruit Store on Fayetteville Street in Raleigh, North Carolina where she made homemade ice cream and chocolates. By 1927, just before the Great Depression Pota married her husband, the late George Theodore Vallas, himself a fellow immigrant. Mr. Speaker, like many families at the time, the Vallas' and Vurnakes' were overwhelmed by the Depression. Pota's family lost their home, their life savings, and the California Fruit Store during that time. But they never lost their will to striving for a better life. And in 1944, Pota and George travelled to Chicago and where they were able to purchase the distributorship of the National Sewing Machine Company. Their business grew into National Art Interiors--a landmark in Raleigh--supplying furnishings for both homes and businesses. Mr. Speaker, Pota served on the North Carolina Community Foundation, the First Citizens Bank Board and was a life-long member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. She was presented with the Saint Michael's Award for her years of dedicated service by the Greek Orthodox Diocese of America. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, Pota Vallas passed away December 12, 2017 at the age of 109. She was a loving wife, and mother, as well as a pioneering entrepreneur and businesswoman in North Carolina and she will be missed.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill. As you know, I represent the great state of North Carolina which has more MTBs recommended by the ITC than any other state. Of the 1,800 petitions from the ITC, around 330 of those were submitted by North Carolinians. This represents a tax cut for them of $70 million in 2018 alone. This legislation benefits a wide variety of manufacturers in my home state, and across the nation. Textile manufacturers like Glen Raven, or crop science companies around the Research Triangle Park, or appliance manufacturers in Charlotte, would all benefit under this plan. Requiring American manufacturers to pay tariffs for imported products not made in the United States puts them at a competitive disadvantage to other countries. This bill is an opportunity to cut those tariffs, which are taxes, and have them reinvested in our communities. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this very important bill.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that today Congress is moving to reform the country's tax code and will thereby create a tremendous economic engine that will produce major job expansion and economic growth. But with any piece of large legislation, there are inevitable refinements that can be made. If we do move a technical corrections bill next year, I am hopeful that we will address one aspect of the interest disallowance contained in the current bill. I am concerned that there are agricultural companies in North Carolina that will face challenges unless this matter is addressed, and a minor definitional correction will address this situation. The farming exception included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is limited to small companies growing crops and does not currently include the interdependent farming businesses which support them in processing and packing their crops. I believe that the agricultural exception should be expanded to address companies that also process and prepare crops, in addition to those that grow crops. This minor change would recognize a unique and necessary sector of the farming industry, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on this important issue going forward.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be here today to support this much-needed overhaul of our broken Tax Code. The status quo we have seen over the past decade is unacceptable, and this bill will finally provide much-needed relief to working families and put our economy back on the path to stable and sustained growth. This bill restores the global competitiveness of American businesses by lowering the corporate rate and moving toward a territorial system. Further, H.R. 1 provides our small businesses the lowest tax rate in a generation, ensuring that these job creators are able to reinvest more of their hard-earned money in our future. Instead of handing over more of their money to the government, small businesses can hire that extra employee, open that second location, or buy that new piece of machinery or lab equipment that they need to take them to the next level by putting in place a Tax Code that encourages growth and rewards investment. It is projected there will be over 10,000 new full-time jobs created in my State of North Carolina. I am proud to support this transformational bill that will bolster growth and investment here at home, leveling the playing field for U.S. businesses. Further, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to ensure that Americans across the globe have a similar level playing field through a system of residence-based taxation.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 4 of rule XVI, I move that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow for morning-hour debate and 10 a.m. for legislative business.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank an exceptional North Carolinian, Alice Fuqua McCall, who has spent nearly three decades working for Members of Congress. Alice first began her career with Senator Jesse Helms back in 1986 as a special assistant. Alice was fresh out of college when she came to Washington, D.C., and was immediately hired to work for the Senator on Capitol Hill. It was during this time, Mr. Speaker, that I first met Alice. We both served on Senator Helms' staff together, bringing conservative North Carolina values--and, in Alice's case, Southern charm--to our work in the Senate. When Senator Helms retired in 2003, Senator Elizabeth Dole welcomed Alice to her staff in Raleigh to handle constituent services. Mr. Speaker, Alice spent 6 years working for Senator Dole in that role. During that time, she became well known in North Carolina for her personal attention to casework. She helped countless constituents navigate the many problems that arise when dealing with Federal agencies. Following her time working in the Senate, Alice moved over to the House side, serving on the staff of former Congresswoman Renee Ellmers as her constituent services director. Alice's caring and compassionate demeanor made her a logical choice for that position. That is why, Mr. Speaker, when I was first elected to serve as a Member of Congress, I couldn't think of anyone better suited to serve as my district director than Alice McCall. Her devotion to her work and the people of North Carolina made her an excellent hire. This past summer, Alice retired from her Federal service after almost 5 years on my staff. The people of North Carolina were lucky to have her as an advocate. My office certainly misses her and will not be the same without her. I will always think of Alice as a colleague and good friend from our time together with Senator Helms, and I wish her and her family well as she enjoys her much-deserved retirement.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be here today to support this historic bill that will put our economy back on the path to stable and sustained growth. This bill finally levels the playing field and restores the global competitiveness of American businesses by moving to a territorial system. This key aspect of our bill removes the punitive barriers of the current worldwide system and allows companies to reinvest their overseas profits in America, without fear of getting hit with an excessive tax burden. This important change ensures that America remains the best place to start, grow, or invest in a business. As companies begin to see the benefits of this new territorial system, I look forward to continuing to work with the chairman to explore ways to move toward a residency-based taxation system to ensure that American citizens have a level playing field around the global as well. I have heard from companies, American companies, that say as they expand their operations overseas, the Tax Code has made it prohibitive for them to hire Americans for these jobs. In fact, our current system of citizenship-based taxation makes Americans nearly 40 percent more expensive to employ overseas than their foreign counterparts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman very much for his understanding of this issue and look forward to our continued work to ensure that talent, not tax burden, is the driving factor in the hiring decisions of multinational companies. I am proud to support this bill. I look forward to it growing the economy and ensuring businesses of all sizes have the capital necessary to hire more employees, grow their operation, and give Americans the raise they deserve.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 627.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Sergeant First Class Jeremiah ``JW'' Wayne Johnson, who gave his life while serving our nation on October 4, 2017, in Ouallam, Niger. SFC Johnson was one of four servicemen killed in the hostile attack in southwest Niger. A Member of the 3rd Special Forces Group, SFC Johnson proudly served our Nation for ten years as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist (74D). At home, he enjoyed fixing and riding motorcycles, forging and customizing knives, and most importantly, spending time with his family. During his tenure in the Army, SFC Johnson received numerous awards and commendations, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Armed Forces Service Medal. Posthumously, SFC Johnson was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge. SFC Johnson was laid to rest in North Carolina on October 16, 2017. His motorcade was met by hundreds of community members, including many uniformed veterans and active duty soldiers, who gathered to honor his life and pay their respects. Mr. Speaker, please join me today in commemorating the life of SFC Jeremiah ``JW'' Wayne Johnson and also in offering our condolences and prayers to his wife Crystal, their two daughters, Addie and Elisa, and to his many family members, friends and comrades as they mourn the loss of this brave hero.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the life of the late James Louis Maxwell, Jr., a gentleman from a small eastern North Carolina county, whose innovative mind and entrepreneurial spirit helped grow his grandfather's local milling company into a thriving international agribusiness. Louis Maxwell's story is certainly one of commercial and financial success, but it is, more importantly, Mr. Speaker, about a life devoted to family and community. On January 9, 1927, in Wayne County, North Carolina, James Louis Maxwell and his wife, Ruth Herring, welcomed the birth of a son, Louis, Jr. He was an active youngster and became involved in Boy Scouts, proudly earning his Eagle Scout badge. He would later say that scouting had a transformational impact on him, and he remained actively involved with the Scouts throughout his life. Louis' grandfather, Hugh Maxwell, founded Goldsboro Milling Company in 1916, a family business, which is honored, Mr. Speaker, to celebrate 101 years of business this year. The company began with the production of various feeds for farm animals, along with milling cornmeal and making grits. Young Louis, a graduate of Goldsboro High School, attended Davidson College, but left to serve his country during World War II. After completing his Naval service, Louis enrolled in UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating in 1950 with a degree in commerce. Proud of, and loyal to his deep roots in eastern North Carolina, he returned home to Goldsboro and immediately began working in the family business, and he rose quickly through the ranks. Louis was always looking at ways to expand the family business, and he began the company's efforts in raising turkeys, hoping that eastern North Carolina would be favorable to growing those large birds. Turkey production grew rapidly, and today, Mr. Speaker, Louis' vision and hard work have helped his company become the largest producer and processor of turkeys in the world, having acquired Butterball Company some years ago. Continuing to grow agribusiness across the United States, Louis expanded his family's ventures, becoming a major swine producer, along with timber and blueberry farming. His visionary acumen has now carried through five generations of the Maxwell family and shows no signs of slowing down. Yet, despite all of the many achievements of this good man--and I have really not even touched the surface of those achievements--he is truly a humble person. To Louis Maxwell, helping folks in his communities, by providing good jobs and many opportunities, was one of the most honorable things he thought a man could do to serve his fellow man. He expected much from himself and from those he employed, and he was pleased to reward loyalty and hard work. His outlet, when he wasn't working hard, what he liked to do was spend his time outdoors. Louis was the ultimate outdoorsman. If it wasn't hunting season, it was fishing season. His children were right there with him, and they say that he was still out in the boat fishing even in his later years. They always stuck to one rule, though, which was: he had to clean the fish that he caught. Louis was a born and bred Methodist and was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Methodist Church in Goldsboro. No matter where he was, Mr. Speaker, he never met a stranger, never walked past someone without saying hello, and he was a proud American. He loved his flag, and he loved his country. But most importantly, he spent more than 60 years married to the love of his life, Mary Ann Jeffreys, until she passed in 2014. Together, they had four children, eight grandchildren, and now a great- grandchild. Louis was very proud of his family, as they were of him. He cherished his role as a husband, father, and grandfather. In his lifetime, Louis Maxwell enriched countless lives in ways too many to express. He will truly be missed. He was a friend. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11 a.m. on Tuesday next.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished accomplishment of a constituent in my district, Sophie Eubanks, on the occasion of her 2017 NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award. Miss Eubanks, of Raleigh, NC, is the founder and owner The PinkyGirl, a web based monogramming apparel company. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Miss Eubanks on her outstanding achievements. We wish her nothing but the best for her future entrepreneurial and educational endeavors.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the life of Dr. Henry O. Lineberger, Jr. Henry was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on January 5, 1927. He graduated from Broughton High School in 1944, as president of his senior class. From there, he went on to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he served as part of the Medical Corps during World War II. Mr. Speaker, after the war, Henry enrolled at Duke University, where he met his wife, Betty Rushing. After they were married in 1950, they moved to Chapel Hill, where Henry studied at the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry as part of that dentistry school's inaugural class. Following school, Henry and Betty moved to Raleigh in 1954, where he opened his first dental practice. Mr. Speaker, Henry Lineberger practiced dentistry in Raleigh for more than 50 years, and during that time, he served on numerous dental boards, including the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners, and he was known by his patients as being available day or night. Henry was an active member of the Edenton Street United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed teaching Sunday school and gathering for fellowship. In fact, Mr. Speaker, Henry's Christian faith was the foundation of his life, and he spent a number of years immersed in Bible study. Henry shared his love for Duke football and basketball with his children and his grandchildren. His grandchildren, by the way, Mr. Speaker, like to call Dr. Lineberger ``Pinky.'' But despite his best efforts to turn them into Duke fans, they all attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, Henry Lineberger passed away on July 11. He is remembered by his family as a caring husband, father, and grandfather, and he will be deeply missed by his community that he helped build.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the tremendous amount of growth in North Carolina, specifically in and around the Second Congressional District. According to the Census Bureau, North Carolina's population has increased 6.4 percent since 2010. That number increases to over 16 percent for just Wake County which encompasses about half of the Second Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that North Carolina is a fantastic place to live and work, especially for young people wanting to raise a family. In fact, Fortune magazine recently surveyed tens of thousands of millennials nationally about the best places to work, and the results speak for themselves. Two of the top 10 businesses in the United States call Wake County home. SAS, a global analytics software firm, and Kimley-Horn, a provider of professional services, placed at number two and number eight on the list respectively. That is great news for the future of North Carolina.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Elsie Johnson, who passed away last week at her Raleigh home. Elsie was born in Puerto Rico to Gilbert and Maria Figueroa, and it was there during World War II that she met her husband, Carl Johnson, a North Carolinian and a U.S. Navy sailor stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Base. Elsie and Carl lived the American Dream. Together, they started a small business, a motor shop, which grew into a franchise automobile dealership in New Bern, North Carolina, and, under the leadership of their son, David, now spans dealerships from Maryland to Florida. David learned from his parents the value of hard work and excellent customer service. Elsie was a woman of incredible faith in God. She was strong, wise, and honest. Mr. Speaker, she made a difference and she leaves a legacy. May God bless her family.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the ongoing and long-standing efforts to recover the remains of American service members who served during World War II in northeast India. These service members remain missing in action to this day and they deserve a proper burial. During World War II, the United States flew hundreds of supply missions on a route that included flight paths directly over the Himalayas through enemy territory from India to China. Given these treacherous routes and hazardous flying conditions, the United States took heavy causalities. To this day Mr. Speaker, U.S. airmen remain unrecovered and unburied. Efforts to locate and document these crash sites have been intermittently undertaken by both private citizens and the U.S. Department of Defense. Over the years, in addition to these documentation efforts, the Governments of the United States and India have worked together to recover our service members. However Mr. Speaker, the tempo of recovery operations could be categorized as slow at best for a variety of reasons, leaving the families of the deceased without closure. Part of the problem involves the challenging conditions in which these crash sites are located--some have been located on the Himalayan mountainsides at altitudes approaching 10,000 feet. Unfortunately Mr. Speaker, the single largest impediment to these recovery operations came when the Government of India placed a de facto moratorium on operations in Arunachal Pradesh for the vast majority of 2010 until 2015. It should be noted during this time, that Leon Panetta, who at the time was Secretary of Defense, visited India and was able to secure permission for the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command to recover remains and bring them back to the United States. The spirit of this agreement lives on today. In early 2016, then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter participated in a repatriation ceremony in New Delhi which highlighted a recovery operation undertaken by the Joint POW/MIA Account Command at the end of 2015. Mr. Speaker, the United States and India today enjoy ever-increasing defense and security ties that underscore our strategic partnership. As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, I urge the Governments of the United States and India to increase their collaboration and accelerate the recovery of these remains. The families of those lost during World War II deserve closure. We need to bring our airmen home.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce for yielding me time, and I rise in strong support of this resolution condemning the terror attacks in the United Kingdom. Mr. Speaker, the senseless acts of terror that took place in Manchester and London are stark reminders of the threat our allies and our Nation face together. These horrific attacks require strong and coordinated response to not only bring the perpetrators and their enablers to justice but also to combat global terrorism. Mr. Speaker, Congress stands ready to support our colleagues in Parliament with any assistance necessary. The special relationship that bonds our two nations and peoples is unlike any other relationship that we enjoy. I am reminded of the events 73 years ago today when the United States stood with Great Britain to execute the largest amphibious landing ever assembled in order to liberate Europe. Our task in fighting terrorism is no less daunting. I appreciate the efforts here today by the House to condemn these acts of terror and reaffirm our unwavering support for the special relationship that we enjoy with the United Kingdom.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen travel delays, I missed the following votes on Tuesday, April 25, 2017: Roll Call Vote No. 222: H. Res. 187, Relating to efforts to respond to the famine in South. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA". Roll Call Vote No. 223: H.R. 876, the Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act of 2017. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA".

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, due to a personal matter, I missed the following votes on Monday, March 27, 2017: Roll Call Vote No. 195: To require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to submit a report regarding certain plans regarding assistance to applicants and grantees during the response to an emergency or disaster. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA''. Roll Call Vote No. 196: Pacific Northwest Earthquake Preparedness Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA''.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the life of John Albert McNeill, Sr.--a fine American. John McNeill was born in Whiteville, North Carolina, in 1918. From the time he was born until he graduated from college, John helped his folks run their family pharmacy in Whiteville, which first opened in 1875, and is, to this day, Mr. Speaker, North Carolina's oldest family- owned pharmacy. When McNeill graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1940 as a pharmacist, he had intentions to return home to Whiteville and work in the drugstore, but that didn't happen. The United States had joined the Allies in World War II, and McNeill found himself at the recruiting station trying to enlist. Much to his dismay, he quickly discovered that he wasn't tall enough to qualify for the Navy. John McNeill was undeterred. Determined to serve his country, McNeill spent the next 2 months of his life stretching, and he added 2 inches to his height--just enough to qualify for the Navy. Having been accepted to the Navy, John completed his midshipman's training at Columbia University and gained his commission in early 1942. During the war, McNeill commanded landing craft in the Pacific theater and served with distinction as he participated in hundreds of landings in the Solomon Islands while reinforcing Guadalcanal. After finishing his time in the Navy, John returned to Whiteville to help run the drugstore. The day after returning home, he opened the family store, walked across the street, and introduced himself to his future wife, Margaret Powell. They were married a year later and raised six children together. Around this time, McNeill got involved in Scouting--first in a Sea Scouting troop at Lake Waccamaw, and then later with the Boy Scouts of America as his children were growing up. Mr. Speaker, John McNeill's devotion to the Boy Scouts was well known across North Carolina as he took his troops to places as far away as the Arctic Circle and the Yucatan Peninsula. A famous story he told involved his troops hiking across the State of North Carolina and stopping to have breakfast with the Governor one morning along the way. Mr. Speaker, under John's leadership, some 55 Boy Scouts in Whiteville, North Carolina, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout--Scouting's highest rank. While John's legacy as a Scoutmaster is near legend, thousands in Columbus County will remember his hospitality, too. Every Fourth of July, at his pier--his dock--on Lake Waccamaw, John and his family gathered to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, an event thousands have attended. All the while, John continued running his family's drugstore; and, for many years, he held the distinction of being North Carolina's oldest licensed pharmacist. Sadly, John passed away in September, at the age of 98. Mr. Speaker, John Albert McNeill, Sr., lived an extraordinary life, and the difference he made in the lives of countless others in his community will be remembered for years and generations to come.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, just before Christmas, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution condemning Israel. I believe it goes almost without saying that Israel is our most trusted ally in the Middle East, which is why I find this so troubling, Mr. Speaker. The Obama administration had the power to veto the resolution and support one of our only allies in the region, but President Obama, less than a month from leaving office, dictated the United States would sit on the sidelines. Well, Mr. Speaker, I am committed to preserving our alliance with Israel and ensuring a lasting peace is found in the region--a position that has been expressed multiple times on the floor of this House by my colleagues--and I believe we can't afford to sit on the sidelines anymore. Mr. Speaker, the United States supports Israel. The Obama administration is leaving behind a failed foreign policy legacy, but our alliance with Israel will endure. Former Senator Jesse Helms believed the United Nations required fundamental reform to address these kinds of problems. I believe this latest action by the Security Council underscores that need.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of United States Army Captain Andrew D. Byers, who died on November 3, 2016, in Kunduz province, Afghanistan. Captain Byers was assigned to B Company, Second Battalion, Tenth Special Forces Group, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel as part of the mission to train, advise, and assist local forces. Captain Byers was a graduate of the United States Military Academy, with a distinguished career of service to our Nation, including prior deployments to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Italy. I extend my thoughts and prayers to Captain Byers' family, friends, and teammates.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize David Howle. For the past 29 years, Coach Howle has served as the head football coach for the Bunn High School Wildcats in Franklin County. During that time, Coach Howle had unprecedented success, amassing 214 wins and just 90 losses. He has had 45 players go on to play at the collegiate level, a nearly unheard of number for an AA high school. While Coach Howle built the Bunn football program into a regional powerhouse, it is more important to recognize the impact he has had on thousands of students, parents, and staff in the Bunn community. His expectation of his players to work hard, not just on the field, Mr. Speaker, but also in the classroom, translated into a 99 percent graduation rate for his student athletes. Coach Howle has famously told his team, ``show me your friends and I'll show you your future,'' encouraging his players not just to be good citizens, but also to be productive members of society. And no matter the outcome of any game--win, loss, or draw--Coach Howle was always there to encourage his players to keep their heads up and to look to the future as the team ended every game with the Bunn High School fight song followed by the Lord's prayer. David Howle exemplifies what the thousands of dedicated educators in North Carolina do every day. The lessons Coach Howle taught and the difference he made in thousands of lives will be remembered in his community for years to come.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, the recent attacks in New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota all underscore the increasing threat our Nation faces from terrorism. The House Homeland Security Committee just reported that already this year, individuals have been arrested in 13 different States for some connection to terrorism, and there have already been 30 ISIS-linked plots in the United States. Mr. Speaker, as events in Paris and Brussels demonstrate, this is not a challenge we face alone. Across the world, terrorism is on the rise. Just this past weekend, an Indian Army base near Pakistan was attacked by heavily armed militants who killed 18 soldiers. Our two nations, the United States and India, have worked closely to combat terrorism, and, more than ever, we must increase those counterterrorism efforts with our partners in India and elsewhere. Mr. Speaker, we must be honest about the evolving terror threat in front of us and confront this challenge with strong leadership and unwavering resolve.

Mr. HOLDING

Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, one would think that, after receiving pallets stacked high with international currency shrouded in secrecy and the associated benefits of this administration's flawed nuclear deal, the leadership in Iran would want to change their ways. But when it comes to Iran, logic doesn't apply. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the opposite has happened. Iran has become more confrontational. Tehran continues to develop and test ballistic missile technology, deploy advanced surface-to-air defenses at a ``peaceful'' nuclear site, and harass our naval vessels on the open seas. The leaders in Tehran and in the IRGC are continuing down the same old path of aggression as they did before the nuclear deal. But now, Mr. Speaker, they have fresh resources and a renewed sense the United States won't seek to hold them accountable, both courtesy of the Obama administration. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the administration to wake up and realize that their policies and dealings with Iran are further threatening our national security.