J. Hill

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Victory Mission Bible Training Center's grand opening and ribbon cutting earlier this month in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Victory Mission Bible Training Center is an 8- to 10-month residential discipleship training program catering to those who struggle with problems such as alcoholism and addiction. It is strictly donation-based and available to people of all ages who need this important assistance. I want to congratulate the resident director, Ms. Jennifer Jones, herself a graduate of the program. She was homeless and struggled with alcohol and drug addiction before entering this important program. Since 1960, over 24,000 people have been treated by Mission Teens centers, and 89 percent of their graduates report that they are doing well. Several have gone into the ministry or now help at one of the 20 centers across the United States. Alcoholism and addiction are powerful diseases, and I am grateful to the Center Ridge community for the opening of the Victory Mission Bible Training Center and their worthwhile investment in the health of our citizens and their community. Honoring Dr. Edith Irby Jones

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to, once again, speak out about the crisis in Syria. The director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons recently reported that traces of a nerve agent or poison gas byproduct were discovered late last year at Syria's Scientific Studies and Research Center. Even though we were assured by the Obama administration that the Russians would remove all the chemical weapons in Syria, this report is not surprising. For some, photos of dead bodies in the streets littered with children, victims of barrel bombing, or asphyxiated by sarin gas just weren't enough. Now we have a United Nations report. The United Nations reports that, since May, fighting in Idlib Province has forced 300,000 Syrians to flee their homes and thousands more continue to die from Assad's butchering. Madam Speaker, when will this House finally grow weary of 8 years of Assad's treachery: more than 570,000 dead, 200,000 imprisoned, and nearly 12 million dislocated? The House must act. Speaker Pelosi well knows, this House, under Republican leadership, passed the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act three times over the past three Congresses, only to have it bogged down in the Senate. Now, Madam Speaker, the tables are turned. Leader McConnell passed S. 1 in February, and we in the House must finally act with expedition and pass the House version of S. 1, which is H.R. 336, to end this step back into darkness, stop the torture and murder of thousands, and move to convict Assad and his henchmen of war crimes. Anti-BDS Resolution

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about H. Res. 246, a resolution stating Congress' opposition to the ongoing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel in the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement, or BDS, targeting Israel. H. Res. 246 passed this House today. Let me get one thing clear, though. BDS is anti-Semitic at its core, and it seeks to delegitimize and isolate our ally Israel. I am a strong supporter and I cosponsored H. Res. 246, but this is not the piece of anti-BDS legislation that we should have considered on the floor of this House this week. We should not be letting the majority off the hook by passing a nonbinding House resolution. H. Res. 246 does not take tangible action to combat the BDS movement, nor does it have any teeth in it. Instead, we should be considering and passing H.R. 336, the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act, which is the House version of S. 1. This legislation, Madam Speaker, passed the Senate in February by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 77-23. H.R. 336 includes the Combating BDS Act, which allows a State or local government to divest its assets from entities using BDS against Israel. This bill includes other important provisions for U.S. and Israel security assistance. Why won't Speaker Pelosi bring this overwhelmingly bipartisan bill to the House floor? Well, the reason they are avoiding this bill in favor of a toothless resolution is because the majority party in this House is hopelessly divided on what should be a commonsense issue. Imagine House Democrats hopelessly divided about anti-Semitism--sad. Resolutions serve an important purpose in this House, but at other times, we need legislative action. This is the time for legislative action. We should be changing the Federal law to no longer allow entities to use BDS to attack the only democracy and our greatest ally in the Middle East. United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as USMCA. I congratulate the Trump administration for successfully updating the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and enhancing the benefits to Arkansans in the form of expanded export sales and growth in jobs. USMCA modernizes and rebalances the 25-year-old NAFTA, including a 21st century approach to digital trade, intellectual property rights, and cross-border data flows. In Arkansas, trade with Mexico and Canada alone supports over 100,000 jobs, and this highlights the need to preserve and strengthen our North American trading relationship. USMCA is a big win across the board. We will have stronger growth, more exports, more jobs, and rising wages. This agreement results in a more level playing field for American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses. Madam Speaker, Canada has approved it. Mexico has passed the enabling legislation for it and has approved this treaty. Now it is time for Speaker Pelosi to bring the USMCA to the floor and seek approval of this House. Religious Freedom Ministerial

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic acts of Mr. Troy Braswell, Sr., a World War II veteran, for his remarkable service to our country. Troy grew up in Louisiana, and after graduating from high school, he joined the Navy to serve his country. He was only 17 years old, and his role was that of a powderman. During his service, Troy served on the USS Mississippi, survived a kamikaze attack, and, afterwards, contracting tuberculosis. He was told by a doctor that he had but 6 months to live. He overcame and survived these challenges, and after his military service, Troy located to Arkansas in 1945. In 1952, he graduated from the University of Central Arkansas, then called Arkansas State Teachers College. Troy turned 93 years old earlier this year and currently resides in Hot Springs Village. Troy's sacrifice for Arkansas and for America will not be forgotten, and I join all Arkansans in thanking him for his bravery and his dedication to our State and our country. Recognizing Victory Mission Bible Training Center

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, today I want to rise and congratulate and thank my very good friend, Ford Overton, for his selfless service to the State of Arkansas. Ford served on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for 7 years, including serving as chairman in his final year. His term just expired on July 1. As a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, his love for the outdoors has always been evident, especially his interest in fishing and preservation of habitat. While on the commission, Ford worked with wildlife biologists and lawmakers to ensure that future generations of Arkansans will be able to continue to enjoy the healthy wildlife populations with which we are so abundantly blessed. He successfully inspired many young Arkansans to enjoy the great hunting and fishing opportunities all across our State. Ford's service to the State of Arkansas and to wildlife conservation will not be forgotten, and I join all Arkansans in congratulating Ford on his infectious passion and leadership throughout the State. Recognizing the Heroic Acts of Troy Braswell, Sr.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize three Faulkner County, Arkansas, Scouting units that helped fill sandbags in preparation for the historic flooding that occurred in Arkansas just in the past few weeks. Pack 444, Troop 444, and Troop 644, all of the First United Methodist Church in Vilonia, volunteered to help our communities in need. This group who filled sandbags included children in elementary school and up to high school-aged teens. Arkansans began filling sandbags on May 22, and more than 65,000 sandbags have been filled by volunteers from across our State. Sandbagging helps divert water from peoples' homes and was an effective way to prevent and reduce the flood damage from these historic floods. I thank the Scouting units of First United Methodist Church and all of those who volunteered their time to help those affected by this historic flooding. Congratulating Ford Overton

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the American Taekwondo Association and the roughly 20,000 people who gathered in Little Rock for the 2019 Worlds ATA Martial Arts competition just last week. ATA is celebrating its golden anniversary this year with 50 years of international training. This organization was founded in 1969 and relocated to Little Rock in 1977, citing similarities between the State's landscape and that of South Korea. My friend, Mrs. Sun Cha Lee, is the chairman of the board for ATA Martial Arts and is committed to changing lives through martial arts and her philanthropy. As a fellow member of the Rotary Club of Little Rock, Mrs. Lee embodies the motto of ``service above self'' and continues to lead their scholarship foundation that has provided over $1 million to deserving students. Mrs. Lee and ATA's cultural addition to Little Rock's story has made and indelible impact on Arkansas citizens and communities. I would like to extend gratitude and congratulations to Mrs. Lee on reaching this memorable milestone. I wish her and all of ATA much continued success for generations to come. Eagle Bank Anniversary

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Conway Department of Sanitation in the city of Conway, Arkansas, on being named the 2019 Recycling Education Program of the Year by the Arkansas Recycling Coalition. This award honors an agency or association that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of waste reduction, recycling, and sustainability across our State in the past year. Conway was selected for this award as a result of its outstanding public education and community outreach effort. This involved talking with more than 2,700 community members of all ages from schools, daycares, churches, homeowner associations, universities, and more. Recycling is a component of making the environment a cleaner place, conserving materials, saving energy, and reducing the size of our landfills. I extend my congratulations to the Conway Department of Sanitation and the entire city of Conway for its worthwhile commitment to our environment and our natural resources. Congratulating Fairfield Bay on Top 100 Planned Communities Honor

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Arkansas' Camp Rockefeller for being recognized, once again, as a nationally accredited camp by the Boy Scouts of America National Camp Accreditation Program. BSA's National Camp Accreditation Program recognizes camps that provide a fun, high-quality, and safe program consistent with the Boy Scouts of America brand and what the public expects from scouting. Camp Rockefeller successfully completed a review of over 200 standards related to the safety and quality of the program, including campgrounds, properties, and the well-being of every camper, leader, and visitor. Over the years, Camp Rockefeller has shown continuous improvement in all areas. Camp Rockefeller is located within Gus Blass Scout Reservation. Each year, thousands of scouts from across the country enjoy this beautiful part of Arkansas and are given the opportunity to participate in hiking, fishing, climbing, camping, and other outdoor activities. As a fellow scout, I am proud of these high standards that are being set at Camp Rockefeller. On behalf of all Arkansans, congratulations, and we look forward to following your continued success in the years to come. Congratulating Conway for Recycling Award

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Anne Marie Doramus on her recent appointment to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, becoming the first woman so appointed as a full-term commissioner. A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, her interest in the outdoors has always been evident, especially duck hunting and bass fishing in southeast Arkansas. She is a founding member of the Arkansas Outdoor Society, a group of young adults passionate about conservation and the outdoors. Commissioner Doramus, with leadership and passion for conservation, will be a great asset to the commission over the next 7 years. She embodies the talent of the next generation of leaders who will be protecting and promoting our great outdoors. I join all Arkansas in congratulating Anne Marie and wish her much success throughout her term as a commissioner. Congratulating Camp Rockefeller

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Eagle Bank and Trust Company on its 100th anniversary. Eagle Bank has been serving customers since 1919 and has grown into 13 full-service bank locations. Eagle Bank was the vision of Harry Hastings, Jr., who applied for a bank charter for the First State Bank of Sherwood in 1964, eventually becoming Eagle Bank and Trust Company in 1988. In 2012, the bank merged with Heber Springs State Bank, which received its original bank charter in 1919 and was originally known as Arkansas National Bank of Heber Springs. The bank survived the Great Depression and the 2008 recession, never closing its doors on its customers. Today, Cathy Hastings Owen, daughter of Harry Hastings, operates Eagle Bank and Trust Company. In 2018, she became the 128th chairman of the Arkansas Bankers Association and is the first woman to lead that important organization. I would like to extend my congratulations to the Hastings family and Eagle Bank and Trust Company, and I wish the company much continued success for generations to come. Flooding--Prevention, Preparation, and Cleanup

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback for hosting the 2019 Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. This second ministerial on religious freedom makes the protection of religious freedom around the world a priority for this administration. This global conclave demonstrates that the United States proudly stands for religious liberty and tolerance so that everyone from all nations can worship freely and without discrimination. I agree with former President Ronald Reagan when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 1986 by saying: ``Respect for human rights is not social work; it is not merely an act of compassion. It is the first obligation of government and the source of its legitimacy.'' It is through this obligation of service to our fellow man that we can make our societies better for our children and all future generations yet to be born. American Taekwondo Association

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from South Carolina for yielding. He is welcome in the beautiful rice country of Arkansas to hunt ducks this fall at any time. I appreciate his leadership of the Sportsmen's Caucus, the largest bipartisan caucus we have here in the House, and all of the good work it does in wildlife conservation and conservation of our public lands, so I thank my friend for that. It is true, I appreciate also his work in the House Energy Action Team and that of our whip, Steve Scalise of Louisiana. And that is because we all are talking tonight about the importance of energy to our economy, the importance of energy to our families, and how that has to be balanced in the world of public policy. Madam Speaker, in 2018, crude oil was the world's number one export product. Last year, the U.S. accounted for 98 percent of global growth in oil production. Since the Congress lifted the 40-year ban on oil exports in 2015, U.S. production continues to set records, and, just last month set a new all-time high of exporting 3.3 million barrels of crude per day. Lifting the ban has filled pipelines and sparked a surge of investment across this land in new shipping infrastructure around the U.S. Total crude imports have also dropped significantly as we rely now more on domestic production and that production produced by our friends in Canada. Likewise, exporting clean natural gas is a leading export of the United States. South Korea is now the largest buyer of American clean natural gas, Madam Speaker. That is cleaning up their skies, lowering their carbon emissions, and cutting their trade imbalance with the United States. Exporting more gas, exporting more oil, and lifting the ban has allowed us to be an energy leader in the world. We are no longer second fiddle to the Gulf, to Saudi Arabia, or to Russia. This comes as the United States is leading the world also, Madam Speaker, in reducing global climate or carbon emissions. Between 2000 and 2014, the United States reduced emissions more than 18 percent. On the contrary, the world's largest carbon emitters, like China and India, continue to have no policy to reduce their emissions, despite having the lowest marginal cost to do that. In the EU and the United States, it is very expensive for us to lower carbon emissions per unit. But, when you are a major carbon polluter, such as India and China, the marginal cost to clean up their action is so much cheaper. Instead, China is building 300 new coal plants, and not a single country in the EU is on target to meet their carbon reduction goals. These countries must do more to be competitive with us on the efforts we are taking here in the U.S. Like my friends from Georgia and South Carolina, I am a strong supporter of nuclear energy because it is the cleanest, most green form of base power generation. In Arkansas, we get about 19 percent of our electricity generated from nuclear. And I support the idea of better and more effective ways to store nuclear waste, which we have talked about and tried to pass in this House. Any discussion of eliminating carbon emissions must include nuclear energy. We also must invest in longer battery life technologies and lowering barriers towards solar cell innovation. The future of clean energy rests with harnessing the power of the Sun and being able to store that power cheaply and portably. No one, Madam Speaker, is doing more research on that than the United States. We are spending over $550 million a year on advanced energy research to make our country even more energy competitive. So, I believe, like many of my colleagues, we need to pursue an all- of-the-above energy strategy that will lead us to a cleaner, less carbon-dependent world without forcing American families and Arkansas families to bear the burden of flawed policies like the Green New Deal or the Paris climate accord. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from South Carolina for this time, for his leadership, and I look forward to working with him on these issues in the years to come.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman of the full committee, and I thank the ranking member for yielding. Today I rise in support of Mr. Rose's amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. This amendment, which I cosponsored, takes the necessary steps to target bad actors responsible for the illegal trafficking of fentanyl into the United States. Across Arkansas, heartbroken families have told me their stories time and time again about how the opioid crisis has claimed the lives of their loved ones. According to the CDC, in 2017, more than 130 Americans lost their lives to opioid abuse each day, nearly half of those deaths attributable to fentanyl. We have a responsibility to stem the tide of this crisis. Targeting the source of the world's largest producers and distributors of fentanyl will begin to stop the flow of these drugs. Mr. Chair, I am grateful to Mr. Rose for this effort, which complements work that I have been doing over the past year with my friend, Senator Tom Cotton, to fight this plague. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this en bloc package.

Mr. HILL

Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in this Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill was passed in the Senate with 84 votes, Madam Speaker, and could be sent today to the President's desk for his signature.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Vascugenix, a medical device company representing the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, for winning the undergraduate division of the 2019 Delta Plastics Arkansas Governor's Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition. Vascugenix is a Little Rock startup that is run by students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and led by Dr. Dwight Chrisman, a cardiologist with Arkansas Cardiology and Baptist Health in Little Rock. Dr. Chrisman invented Vascugenix's flagship product, the Speed- Torque, which is a device that allows surgeons to perform heart surgery faster and safer, all while being minimally invasive. Vascugenix is partnering with local hospitals such as Arkansas Heart Hospital and Baptist Health, along with Arkansas' medical university, UAMS. I congratulate the team who served this great new product and great new company in Little Rock. MacArthur Museum Recognition

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend, John Maus, for being awarded the 2019 Steve Willbanks award for community service in his outstanding work in Morrilton, Arkansas. The Steve Willbanks award was established in 2011 to honor his more than 40 years of leadership as president and CEO of Community Service, Incorporated. Maus is a lifelong resident of Conway County, and serves as president of the Sacred Heart School Board, where he graduated in 1981. He also serves as president of the Sacred Heart Parish Council, and recently co-chaired their $3 million school and church renovation project. John is active in the community, and serving on the Board for Community Service Properties, and a member of the ASU Beebe Ag-Tech advisory board, as well as the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Board of Visitors. John's service to the State of Arkansas, and commitment to our youth will never be forgotten, and I join all Arkansans in congratulating John Maus on this recognition, and I wish him much continued success.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History for receiving the Outstanding Achievement in Collections Care and Conservation Award by the Arkansas Museums Association. This award recognizes excellence in preservation and conservation and practices that illustrate exceptional standards that are set forth by the American Alliance of Museums and Society of American Archivists. The museum received this award for renovations last year of the historic Arsenal Building built in 1841, which now houses the military history educational exhibits. MacArthur Museum's Executive Director, Stephen McAteer, was also recognized and received the Distinguished Museum Professional of the Year Award for his oversight role in these renovations. MacArthur Museum opened in May 2001, and continues to educate local, State, national, and international visitors about Arkansas' military heritage. Thank you to my friend, Stephen, and all of the dedicated workers at the MacArthur Military Museum of History for your service and leadership in the preservation of Arkansas' heritage. Recognizing the Recipient of the 2019 Steve Willbanks Award

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and her program, Prescription for Life. Arkansas has the second-highest opioid prescription rate in this country. Prescription for Life is a drug abuse prevention program used in high schools across Arkansas. This program aims to encourage students to avoid taking prescription drugs in an illicit manner. The course is interactive and designed to educate young people through animated videos about the dangers of prescription drugs. This course also teaches students how to recognize the symptoms of a drug overdose and abuse and how to help people who may be suffering from an overdose. Prescription for Life is provided at no cost to Arkansas schools. Thank you to Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and to all the contributors for this important effort. Vascugenix Business Plan

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to work with my friend from northwest Arkansas on this important amendment. I appreciate my colleague's support. In just the 3 years since it has launched, the Conductor has served nearly 9,000 people through its free programming and its business consulting. I thank UCA for its leadership on the Conductor. Mr. Chairman, I encourage all Members to support this important amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is very straightforward. It ensures that $5 million within the Small Business Administration's entrepreneurial development program is spent in support of the Small Business Administration's Regional Innovation Clusters program. Earlier this year the SBA awarded a $500,000 contract through this Regional Innovation Clusters program to an organization in my district called the Conductor. The Conductor is a public-private partnership between the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas, and Startup Junkie in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Conductor is one of seven clusters nationwide to be awarded this competitive contract, and this important funding will enable the Conductor to bolster its ability and expand its footprint across underserved areas particularly in rural Arkansas. With only a small amount of money, $5 million, the SBA can continue to drive innovation and job creation in Arkansas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack).

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HILL of Arkansas

Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, today I recognize Mr. Michael A. Nelson of the United States Army Legislative Liaison office for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to our Nation. Mr. Nelson will soon transition from his current assignment as a Department of the Army Civilian and Congressional Operations Analyst with the Department of the Army in the House of Representatives to serve as the Congressional Travel Manager for the Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison at the Pentagon. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mike is a former Navy Legislative Liaison and served 24 honorable years in the United States Navy. He enlisted in the Navy and reported to Recruit Training Command San Diego, California in February 1993 and served on a myriad of sea and shore duty assignments until his retirement in February 2017. In July 2017, Mike was selected to serve as a Department of the Army Civilian and Congressional Operations Analyst in the Army House Liaison Office. In his role as an Analyst, Mike served as the primary liaison between Members of the 115th and 116th Congresses, their Staff, Legislative Committees, and the U.S. Army. Mike also provided factual, coordinated, and timely replies to Congressional Inquiries. Additionally, Mr. Nelson planned, scheduled and coordinated Secretary of the Army events and accompanied Congressional and Staff Delegations on worldwide fact-finding and investigative missions and built the relationships needed to increase the trust and confidence the U.S. Congress has in the U.S. Army. Madam Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service and sacrifice of a fellow Arkansan, Michael Anthony Nelson, as he proceeds to the next chapter in his remarkable career. I wish him the very best.