Clay Higgins

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon), the cosponsor of this bill.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Rogers, and Congressman Bacon for bringing this bill to the floor. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 504, to improve DHS' coordination and information-sharing activities with State and local fusion centers across the country, thereby making the homeland security intelligence enterprise more robust. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3444, which renames the VA community-based outpatient clinic in Lake Charles, Louisiana, after First Lieutenant Douglas Fournet. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to sponsor the House version of this bill. Douglas Fournet is an American hero deserving of the highest tribute. He joined the Army in 1966 and was deployed to Vietnam. There, Fournet served as rifle platoon leader of the 2nd Platoon, Company Bravo. In the A Shau Valley of Vietnam, the platoon came under sniper fire. With an enemy mine in the way of the platoon's advance, Fournet ordered his men to take cover. He then ran uphill to the mine and attempted to disarm it with a knife. Before he could succeed, the mine was detonated. Douglas Fournet was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970. He is the sole recipient from southwest Louisiana. Douglas Fournet gave his last full measure of devotion in service to his country and in defense of his platoon. Our freedoms are paid for by the blood of patriots like First Lieutenant Fournet. Renaming of the Lake Charles VA clinic is a small tribute to his courage and forever enshrines the legacy among southwest Louisiana veterans. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with me and honor the life, legacy, and gallantry of First Lieutenant Douglas Fournet. I urge favorable passage.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4606, the Ensuring Small Scale LNG Certainty and Access Act. Mr. Speaker, the United States is currently experiencing an energy renaissance. Liquefied natural gas production, or LNG, in the United States is playing a major role in the changing of the international landscape, with America now leading the way in innovative new LNG technologies and becoming a major energy exporter. I am proud to say that much of this national accomplishment comes as a result of the contributions of many LNG endeavors based in my district in south Louisiana. The success we are currently experiencing is just the beginning. During this Congress, we have worked with the Trump administration to roll back many of the previous administration's regulations that injured American industry. In fact, the previous executive branch, in many ways, actually weaponized Federal agencies against the oil and gas industry. Conservatives in this Congress have worked to implement commonsense reforms like the legislation we are considering today to revive the American energy industry and bring energy security to our Nation. H.R. 4606 would provide for the expeditious consideration of NEPA exclusion applications to import and export small quantities of natural gas. This is a needed reform that will help encourage economic development and create jobs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support today's combined rule that includes this legislation and to support the full measure when it comes to the floor for a final vote.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5693, the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act. My bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs for 3 years to cover the cost of long-term care at medical foster homes for up to 900 veterans at a time who are otherwise eligible for nursing home care through the VA. Medical foster homes are private homes in which a caregiver provides services to a smaller group of individuals who are unable to live without day-to-day assistance. Medical foster homes are an alternative to nursing homes for those who require care but prefer a noninstitutional setting with fewer residents. For many younger veterans in need of round-the-clock care, medical foster homes can provide a more age-appropriate independent setting than traditional nursing homes. The VA has operated its medical foster home initiative for nearly 20 years, and currently oversees more than 700 licensed caregivers assisting nearly 1,000 veterans across 42 States. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, while the VA will cover the cost of home- based primary care for eligible veterans living in medical foster homes, the VA does not cover the cost of medical foster home living arrangements for veterans eligible for nursing home care through the VA. The reforms in my bill increase access to medical foster homes and represent a significant cost savings for the Department of Veterans Affairs. There should be no one-size-fits-all standard of care for veterans. Veterans should be afforded flexibility to use the benefits they righteously earned in a manner that best suits their individual needs, which is why the VA, American Legion, and many other veteran service organizations have offered their support for this language. Further, the bill refocuses the administrative bodies of the VA to better prioritize programs like the GI bill, vocational rehabilitation, home loan benefits, and transition assistance programs that create economic opportunities for veterans. This allows existing veterans' health benefits and National Cemetery Administration to better focus on providing healthcare and cemetery services. This critical refocus will improve oversight and veterans access to important services like the medical foster home program that give much needed choice and personal dignity back to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our Nation. Mr. Speaker, this bill reflects the compassion of the American citizenry in our dedication to serve the veterans who have served us. Please join me in supporting our servicemen and women by voting in support of H.R. 5693, the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I have a map in my office that shows the areas of the United States that have been impacted by flood. It is virtually the entire country. This is the House of ``We the People.'' This is an easy ``yes'' vote. I urge my colleagues on my side of the aisle to try to explain to the American people how you can vote ``yes'' six times on an extension and ``no'' the seventh time. We did our job in November. We passed some comprehensive reforms to the NFIP, a 5-year authorization. The Senate has failed. We serve the people. This is right for the people. I urge my colleagues to step up and vote ``yes'' on this extension. We don't like it, but we serve the people. This bill is for the people.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, for weeks now, the abolish ICE movement has been growing in popularity on the left with many Democrats embracing this radical policy stance. I find it extremely ironic that calls to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency come only 1 year after 159 House Democrats voted to pass landmark legislation introduced by my colleague, Chairman Michael McCaul, reauthorizing ICE and other DHS agencies for the first time since their inception after 9/11. Mr. Speaker, calls to abolish ICE are reckless, dangerous to America's national security, and threaten the well-being of our ICE agents. As a member of the thin blue line, this attack on ICE is personal to me. The men and women of ICE serve as America's frontline defenders against human, drug, and weapons traffickers. ICE agents locate, arrest, and deport violent gang members and criminal aliens who threaten public safety. Last year alone, ICE arrested more than 127,000 criminal aliens responsible for: 76,000 drug offenses, 48,000 assault offenses, 11,000 weapons offenses, 5,000 sexual assault offenses, 2,000 kidnapping offenses, and 1,800 homicide offenses. Further, ICE agents made more than 4,800 gang-related arrests, rescued 518 victims of human trafficking, and seized 1 million pounds of narcotics last year. The campaign against ICE is the latest rallying cry for open borders, the latest call to prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens, and the latest shrill cacophony from the left to vilify and demonize frontline law enforcement in America. Democrats are making it very clear to the American people that they stand against efforts to secure America's borders. Americans overwhelmingly support law and order. I speak for a coalition of conservative Members of Congress as I introduce this resolution affirming support for ICE personnel and condemning the dangerous call from the left to abolish ICE. Let me state further that affirming support for ICE should not be the end of our efforts. We should be doing more to secure our borders and provide frontline defenders with the resources necessary to accomplish their mission, and we should end dangerous sanctuary policies. Today the House will vote on our resolution formally stating congressional support for ICE personnel and their mission. Despite the rhetoric being pushed by the left, the American people support Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Their service should be respected. Very soon, we the people will know where every Member of this Congress stands. Mr. Speaker, it saddens me to say it has been brought to my attention that some of my colleagues across the aisle plan to vote ``present'' on today's resolution. I would remind them that our constituents elected us as their voice in the people's House. We were not elected to be silent. The American people deserve to know where every Member of this body stands. To vote ``present'' on this resolution reflects fear. The American citizenry deserves a courageous vote. I urge my colleagues to look into their hearts, vote on this resolution reflective of your own deepest belief, and, as you do so, remember that we all have been elected to serve American citizens, American interests, and America's future.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 200, the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act. I am a cosponsor of this legislation. Mr. Chairman, my State of Louisiana has a heavy presence of both commercial and recreational anglers, and they all know that reforms have been needed to our Federal fisheries data collection systems for decades. In some cases, especially in relation to the red snapper fishery in the Gulf, rebuilding schedules, season lengths, and catch limits have been based off data models from the 1980s. Technology has come a long way since then, with universities and the Gulf States themselves utilizing new methods of data collection that are producing positive results that are at odds with the 1980s numbers that the Federal Government has been using. This bill will go a long way in promoting a modern science-backed approach to management of our fisheries. This reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation Management Act provides flexibility and stability that will promote economic expansion through enhanced public access and opportunity for recreational fishing in saltwater. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Young, for introducing this bill, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support its passage.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4760, the Securing America's Future Act of 2018. I am a cosponsor of this legislation. I remind all of my colleagues that a sovereign nation cannot stand without sovereign borders. I remind my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that we are Representatives of citizens of the 50 sovereign States of America. We have not been elected by citizens of Mexico or Nicaragua or El Salvador. We represent American interests. This is an America-first bill that secures America's southern border. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to embrace their oath and to recognize their service to these citizens that depend upon sound, decisive measures from this body.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Chair, I rise today to offer my amendment to H.R. 8, the Water Resources Development Act of 2018. Madam Chair, my amendment is a commonsense and cost savings amendment that would allow the Army Corps of Engineers much-needed flexibility when acquiring certain rights to the procurement of land. Specifically, it would direct the Secretary to prefer acquiring the minimum interest necessary in real property needed to support a project or an action. This allows flexibilities for the Corps to consider the use of a temporary easement estate or other interest to facilitate a reduction in overall project cost, to reduce project time, and minimize conflict with property owners related to the project or action. This approach will allow the Corps to take a more sensible approach to projects and not force the Federal Government to purchase more property in order to undertake critically needed projects. Historically, in my home State of Louisiana, many of the projects are accomplished through partnerships between the Federal Government and State and private landowners who often can offer more favorable and economical terms than the Federal Government's outright purchasing of property. As we have heard throughout debate on the underlying bill, there are countless and widely known deficiencies in the way business is conducted by the Corps. Many of these issues are caused by bureaucratic regulations that get in the way of real progress being made in a manner that is responsible to the taxpayers we represent. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Chairwoman, I thank my colleague from Louisiana for supporting the bill, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense amendment, as well as final passage of the chairman's bill. Madam Chairwoman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for allowing us to address ``We, the people'' regarding this very important topic. Mr. Speaker, over the course of the past 500 days, this Congress has worked with President Trump to pass historic tax cuts and regulatory reform. As a result, this is the strongest economy we have seen in two decades. Many of my colleagues across the aisle, whom I respect, continue to posture otherwise, ignoring the facts. They have dismissed our efforts as crumbs, saying that tax cuts are Armageddon. But outside of this Chamber, outside of the small bubble that is D.C., the real America exists and real Americans who get it. People concerned with earning an honest living and providing for their families, because of tax reform, those families are seeing new jobs created. They are seeing real wage growth. They are seeing new investments in their communities. Mr. Speaker, I travel throughout the district that I represent. I speak directly to the citizens that I serve. In Lafayette, Abbeville, New Iberia, Lake Charles, everywhere we go, there are real people telling real stories about how tax cuts are improving their lives. Americans that I represent, they have shared their stories about how they are using their tax cut to pay bills, to save for retirement, or to buy new school clothes for the kids. Small business owners across south Louisiana have shared how they are expanding operations and investing in their employees. That is the real impact on families in Louisiana and across America. This body spent months debating the merits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I and many of my colleagues projected more jobs, more investment, and a stronger economy. We were right. Those projections have become reality: nearly 3 million new jobs since President Trump was elected; 1 million new jobs since we passed historic tax cuts; unemployment at its lowest point in half a century; consumer confidence at a 17-year high; small business optimism at an all-time high; and real GDP growth projected at over 4 percent for 2018. Let me share that I have read the Book of Revelation. This is no Armageddon. This is a historically strong economy fueled by tax cuts and regulatory reform. Mr. Speaker, America is back. We are open for business, and Americans will continue to benefit from the pro-growth conservative policies of President Trump and this Republican Congress.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, due to a medical issue with a family member I was unable to be present for votes in the U.S. House of Represenatives from May 21 through May 24, 2018. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 207; YEA on Roll Call No. 208; YEA on Roll Call No. 209; YEA on Roll Call No. 210; YEA on Roll Call No. 211; YEA on Roll Call No. 212; NAY on Roll Call No. 213; YEA on Roll Call No. 214; YEA on Roll Call No. 215; YEA on Roll Call No. 216; YEA on Roll Call No. 217; YEA on Roll Call No. 218; NAY on Roll Call No. 219; NAY on Roll Call No. 220; NAY on Roll Call No. 221; NAY on Roll Call No. 222; YEA on Roll Call No. 223; YEA on Roll Call No. 224; YEA on Roll Call No. 225; YEA on Roll Call No. 226; YEA on Roll Call No. 227; NAY on Roll Call No. 228; YEA on Roll Call No. 229; and YEA on Roll Call No. 230.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the American farmer. Mr. Speaker, will this body recognize the heritage and culture, the sacrifice of American farmers, who for generations have provided for our country and our world. I rise today in support of one of America's most important agricultural commodities that supports an industry which produces $20 billion of domestic economic activity annually: sugar. I have the honor of representing southwest Louisiana, where sugar contributes $3.5 billion to our State economy annually and employs over 16,000 hardworking Louisiana citizens. Mr. Speaker, these men and women have come into their lives embracing the heritage and hard work of their mothers, their fathers, their grandmothers, their grandfathers. For generations, by the toil of their labor and the sweat of their brow, they have tilled the soil and raised sugar. The United States has historically been a reliable supplier of high- quality, low-cost sugar that is used by consumers domestically and internationally. In fact, Americans on average spend over 20 percent less for sugar than consumers in other nations, and manufacturers pay roughly the same price for American sugar that they did in the 1980s. American sugar growers last year produced 32,000 tons of sugar, 13,800 tons of which came from south Louisiana. While sugar prices have remained flat for the past three decades, the cost of farming has not, as equipment, fuel, and fertilizer costs have all risen between 90 percent to 200 percent in that same timeframe. We must protect the future of American sugar and American sugar farmers, American sugar farm families. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support American farmers and pass H.R. 2, the Agricultural and Nutrition Act of 2018, as amended, by the House Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5242, the School Resource Officer Assessment Act of 2018, as amended. I am the author of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, so far, in 2018, there have been 21 school shootings that have resulted in injuries or loss of life. While it is impossible for us to anticipate every attempt and impossible to enact regulations that would prevent them, one thing we can do is to ensure that honorable, patriotic, public servants are available to guard our schools, students, and teachers against acts of violence. Considering the recent string of school shootings, it has become clear that increasing the use of school resource officers should play a major role in protecting our schools. Currently, there are 95,230 public schools in the United States. Our research has clarified that hard data does not exist regarding law enforcement assets at these schools. We estimate--and we can only estimate--that there may be a 30 percent utilization of school resource officers across the Nation. Mr. Speaker, the first step in promoting school safety is evaluating what SRO assets we have on the ground and how public schools are using them. After we have a clear understanding of the field, we in Congress will be able to more effectively direct resources to where they are most needed. That is why I have introduced this bill. My bill would simply give Congress the information we need to make effective decisions regarding school safety by requiring the U.S. Attorney General and the U.S. Secretary of Education to gather data regarding the number and status of school resource officers assigned to each public school in the United States. My bill is a commonsense, information-gathering bill that has bipartisan support and has been endorsed by the National Association of School Resource Officers. This legislation is the first piece of several initiatives I will be introducing and supporting to secure our schools. I would like to thank Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott, who are on the Education and the Workforce Committee, and their staffs for their help in getting this bill to the floor. I would also like to thank the cosponsors of my bill, in particular, Representative Ruppersberger, for his help in this process. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2152, the Citizens Right to Know Act. As a cosponsor of this bill, and a law enforcement for over a decade, I believe this bill is common sense and a needed piece of legislation. May I share respectfully with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who may be in doubt of this bill, if you are in support of pretrial diversion programs, then you should support this bill. The existence of pretrial diversion courts is manifested in our Nation due to a righteous need for proper adjudication at all levels of the economic strata and all portions of our culture and society. But the pretrial diversion program comes after arrest. Arrest is made by the police officer investigating the incident. Innocence is presumed until adjudicated guilty or otherwise, and within 48 hours of arrest, probable cause has to be presented in the form of an affidavit to a magistrate court, and that judge will determine if that American has been righteously incarcerated, his freedom taken from him, our most precious right as Americans. We stand in the body which gave birth to the concept of a man and a woman's right to be free, and I support that. The diversion programs across America, however, through their rather brief history within our judicial system, have failed to provide sufficient data to the jurisdictional authorities that gave birth to them, and that data has not been shared at the Federal level which supports them financially through the harvesting of treasure from the American people that we serve. I respectfully submit to my colleague that I am a compassionate American man that believes in innocence until proven guilty, and I would like for diversion court programs to continue and grow across our country to better serve the needs of we the people, to recognize the fact that all of us, in some way, are failed and fallen, and we should, of course, with compassion, move forward through the judicial system. The pretrial diversion programs that exist across our country depend upon a cornerstone of confidence among the jurisdictional authorities that they operate within and the Federal Government that funds them, that they are operating within parameters that are accepted across the country as abiding by laws local, State, and Federal. To not share data that is readily available by these courts with the Federal Government that funds them is an angle that could be used to defeat these courts that we support. So the compilation of data righteously collected and disseminated is something that we should support if we further support these very court systems. So this legislation before us today would give Federal and State law enforcement agencies vital data on criminal offenders, repeat or otherwise, who are placed within the diversion court systems. This information is crucial to both promoting public safety and giving policymakers better insight into the effectiveness of pretrial programs, which I support. I would like to thank Congressman Poe for his leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues very respectfully, on both sides of the aisle, to support this legislation.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster).

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is very simple. If adopted, it would require the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to initiate a 10-year pilot program to permit operators of State 2 airplanes to conduct operations in medium-hub or non-hub airports. This pilot program would additionally require that participating airports certify each year that they wish to remain in the program. The whole purpose of my amendment is to allow rural airports that are located outside of more heavily populated areas to have the ability to conduct commercial and noncommercial activities that currently are not allowed. Mr. Chairman, this is a pro-business and commonsense amendment, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it and the passage of Chairman Shuster's underlying bill. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chairman, I stand in support of this amendment, and I respect my colleague's concerns. I have communicated thoroughly with my constituents in rural areas that would benefit from this amendment and allow the further use of rural airports without interfering with neighborhoods. It has broad support, my friend, across the communities that I represent, and I urge my colleague to reconsider and to support my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4564) to require a threat assessment on current foreign terrorist fighter activities, and for other purposes.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to offer for consideration H.R. 4564, the Post-Caliphate Threat Assessment Act of 2017, for House consideration. The Homeland Security Committee's Task Force on Denying Terrorist Entry into the United States, which I am a member of, spent the last year taking a deeper look at how terrorist organizations and lone-wolf attackers are entering the nations they are targeting. One of the most concerning issues that the task force learned is that an estimated 40,000 foreign fighters traveled to ISIS-occupied territories to join a force of over 100,000 radical Islamic terrorists. Through major victories by anti-ISIS forces, the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria has been mostly defeated as a whole, driving these terrorists into hiding. Many thousands of these battle-trained jihadists are now unidentified and their location is unknown. The United States is a primary target. Of particular concern for the United States are those fighters seeking to return to Europe or the U.S. These fighters may seek to exploit direct flights to the United States as well as the Visa Waiver Program. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is about ensuring that we have the best possible data to defeat this threat. Specifically, my bill would direct the Secretary of DHS, in coordination with the Secretary of State and Director of National Intelligence, to conduct a threat assessment of current foreign terrorist fighter activity and report their findings to Congress. It would also ensure that Congress and the Executive gain better clarity on foreign terrorist travel and trends post-caliphate, which will strengthen our defenses as the diaspora unfolds. Before closing, I would like to thank task force Chairman Gallagher, Representative Katko, committee Chairman McCaul, bipartisan members of the Homeland Security Committee, and other members of the task force and their staffs for the hard work put in over the last year to make the report we issued this past December a reality. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.