Kevin Hern

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

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

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Mr. Chairman, the liquid natural gas revolution going on in this country is making us more energy secure, and it is revitalizing our local economies across the country. According to the Department of Energy, natural gas applies to nearly one-third of the United States' primary energy. It is the primary heating fuel for approximately half the U.S. households. The oil and gas industry generates more than $50 billion a year in my home State of Oklahoma. The industry has been the single largest contributor to Oklahoma tax revenues in recent years. The discovery of promising new natural gas formations in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico along with the Marcellus shale formation in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York show that the near-term future of our country's energy mix will be supplied by an abundance of natural gas. Natural gas is a cost-effective, reliable, and clean form of energy that has created thousands of high-paying jobs across the Nation, including in Oklahoma's First Congressional District. America is now the world's largest producer of natural gas. For the first time since 1957, we are a net exporter of natural gas to the rest of the world. Recognizing the benefit that the natural gas revolution is having on our economy and energy security, President Trump issued an executive order in April of this year. Section 4(b) of the executive order requires the Department of Transportation Secretary to propose a rule for notice and public comment that would ``treat liquid natural gas the same as other cryogenic liquids and permit liquid natural gas to be transported in approved rail tank cars.'' Mr. Chairman, no matter our production levels of natural gas, we cannot realize its full potential unless we have safe and reliable ways to transport it. That is what the President's executive order is all about. I believe this amendment unnecessarily takes away a vital transportation option for transporting our natural gas to both underserved markets on the mainland United States and to our ports so it can be exported around the world. With certain States making it more difficult to transport LNG by pipeline, we need all the available options at our disposal to transport these much-needed energy sources. We have been transporting oil by rail for decades, but since liquid natural gas is a relatively new energy commodity, Federal rules and regulations have not caught up to the need for flexibility in transporting LNG, which is why I was pleased to see section 4(b) included in President Trump's executive order. Instead of trying to inhibit this administration's effort to make our Nation more energy secure, I believe we should be assisting them in any way possible to benefit our economy and our energy security. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I ask that my colleagues join me in opposing this amendment.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the retirement of Sandy Oxford and thank this outstanding Oklahoman for her service to my community. Ms. Oxford served as an Army clerk during the Vietnam era, eventually switching to the Navy where she was one of their top recruiters. Back home in Tulsa, she served as the office manager for the Tulsa Vet Center. Additionally, Ms. Oxford faithfully served as the chair of the Mayor of Tulsa's Veteran Advisory Council. She served in this role with great dedication for 10 years, never missing a single meeting. She has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of veterans, including work on suicide prevention initiatives and Vietnam Veteran commemoration ceremonies. To thank Ms. Oxford for her service, Tulsa's Mayor Bynum presented her a key to the city and declared May 16th ``Sandy Oxford Day'' in Tulsa. I am honored to recognize Sandy Oxford as she attends her final meeting of the advisory council today. Her commitment to the City of Tulsa will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my June Veteran of the Month, Mr. Oscar Nipps, Jr., and to share his American hero story. Mr. Nipps served as a rifleman, company cook, and sergeant with the 1st Calvary division during World War II, liberating thousands of civilians from the Santo Tomas Internment Camp. He continued fighting alongside the Allied forces to liberate the Philippines and was on a ship headed to the front lines of the Japan invasion when victory was declared over Japan in 1945. At 92 years old, he continues to be a leader and public servant as a volunteer at the Military History Museum in Broken Arrow. In fact, the city has even named two streets in his honor. He is a familiar face at the museum, where he shares his stories of the brave men and women he fought beside and friends he lost during the war. Mr. Nipps' bravery will never be forgotten, and I am grateful for the work he continues to do to serve this great country and share the stories of those who fought for justice and peace. I am honored to name him the First District's Veteran of the Month for June.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from Oklahoma, and I thank my friend from Maryland who reminds us that our President was constitutionally elected and that our President was elected by the way our Constitution describes and outlines, and we thank our President for the work he is doing. Mr. Speaker, I cosponsored an amendment with Congressman Cole to remove a dangerous poison pill in the appropriations bill that would block the free exercise of rights for the American people. Congress has long supported robust protections for rights of conscience. The right to follow your conscience on deeply held religious and moral beliefs is a foundational value of our country. In a free society like ours, adherence to one's convictions should not be just tolerated but encouraged. Our forefathers fought like hell to liberate our country from a monarchy that mandated what to believe and how to behave. How soon we have forgotten. It happens in small increments, with small, minor changes here and there, but they grow larger and more invasive. Someday you will find yourself back under the yoke, with an oppressive government telling you what to believe and how to behave. This conscience rule is absolutely necessary to preserve the freedom of expression that we hold dear in our country. The rider in the Labor HHS bill eliminating this rule is a poison pill and does not belong in an appropriations package. The Trump administration has vigorously supported the right for our people to act on their religious and moral convictions. President Trump's leadership on this issue has encouraged millions of Americans who have seen these protections start to slip away in the past decade. Who are we to force people to act against their convictions and religious beliefs? It is a slippery slope to despotism, but I think some of our colleagues would have us go down that road in pursuit of some greater good. I can assure you that forcing the American people to work against their convictions and beliefs will lead us to nothing but destruction, and I guarantee that this bill will never be signed into law if this language remains. This amendment must be made in order so that we can debate it and remove the poison pill from the final bill. Otherwise, the time my colleagues have spent on the Labor HHS bill is a giant waste of time because it will never make it to the President's desk.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I missed votes today because I was in my district with Vice President Pence to tour the emergency response initiatives to the recently declared state of emergency, due to flooding in the Tulsa Area. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 235, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 236, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 237, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 238, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 239, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 240.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1261, the National Landslide Preparedness Act. This straightforward piece of legislation will help prepare and protect us from landslides. Landslides are a dangerous and expensive national hazard. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, landslides cause as much as $2 billion in damages each year and around 25 fatalities. Wildfires, earthquakes, and severe weather all make landslides more likely. As cities and towns across our country continue to develop, the chances of being affected by these events, likewise, increases. Since the 1970s, one of the core missions of the U.S. Geological Survey has been to use scientific data to minimize the loss of life and property damage from hazards like landslides. H.R. 1261 supports that goal by establishing the National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program, which will help identify and understand landslide risk; and when those hazards eventually occur, this bill will help prepare us by improving communication and emergency preparedness. H.R. 1261 also establishes a national 3D Elevation Program to create and maintain standardized, publicly available 3D elevation data for the United States. Not only will this program assess landslide hazards, but could also help identify energy, mineral, and water resources, geological hazards such as active faults, and other potential dangers, including swelling soils, floodplains, and abandoned mine lands. In Oklahoma, we have had lots of floods, so if there are other things we can do that will help get us some understanding of what is going on, people will be better for it. I am confident that this bill will help prepare for and prevent against damage from landslides and, most importantly, save American lives. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as has been documented, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands' workforce has historically been comprised of U.S. citizens as well as a nonimmigrant, temporary foreign population. Until 2009, the CNMI controlled its own immigration policy for the foreign workforce. Today, the Department of Homeland Security manages the applications and eventual permits for any foreign people entering the Commonwealth for work. Since 2009, the transitional worker program was forward-looking, which left a certain portion of the existing foreign workforce that has resided and worked in the Commonwealth for many years in a gray area. H.R. 559 is an approach to resolve any uncertainty for these long- term foreign workers. I thank the Governor of the Commonwealth, Ralph Torres, for his help and Mr. Sablan. While the policy contained in this measure is fair for long-term foreign workers in the Mariana Islands, I am deeply disappointed that the majority did not consider this bill through regular order. Neither the Natural Resources Committee nor the Judiciary Committee, which received an additional referral of this bill, have acted on this measure--no hearings, no markups. It is my hope that the majority truly believes in following their rules that are supposed to provide for an open and transparent process because this bill did not meet that test. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special Order.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, the last 2 weeks have been brutal for much of America. Storms, tornadoes, and floodwaters have attacked our homes and our people. I spent last week across the First District of Oklahoma, watching the waters rise and the homes and livelihoods of my community be destroyed. It was heart-wrenching. Every day, I saw more families forced to evacuate, more homes take on water, more sinkholes open up, and roadways disappear under the flood. This disaster has reached every corner of my district and has permanently affected countless families. For some, a lifetime of building a home was washed away in a matter of days. There are priceless photos that will never be recovered, neighborhoods that will never be the same, families who have lost everything. We may have caught the attention of the Nation for a few days while tornadoes tore up our country and storms battered our homes, but now the water subsides, and the cameras turn off, but the damage remains. Our communities will be forever changed. In times of war, there is an enemy. There is a target for our retribution. When foreign armies attacked Pearl Harbor, we had a swift response. There was somewhere to go, someone to fight. When your people are attacked by nature, when it is flood waters destroying your home instead of armies, where do you turn? In times of disaster, it is easy to shake your fist at God. It is natural to be angry and to turn that anger on the only being you think you can blame. Instead, what I have seen in my community this week is faith, generosity, and the genuine love and care for our fellow man. It is these moments of devastation when true character shines through. This is when heroes are made. When everyone is running away from a problem or dangerous situation, who runs toward it? Tonight, we are here to honor the selfless heroes of the storms, the men and women of our communities who showed true leadership and courage these last few weeks to keep our people safe and protect our families. I am proud of Oklahomans and how they came together. I am humbled to have personally heard their stories. Along with my colleagues, we will shine a light on the brave people whose sacrifices will forever have an impact on our districts. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio. Madam Speaker, anyone can run for office. Anyone can have a title, but it takes true leadership and true selflessness to stand up in the heart of a disaster and lead your community. Oklahomans are blessed to have incredible leaders at every level of government. Local officials in all of my districts, cities, and counties worked sleepless nights, through torrential rains, and devastating tornadoes to keep our people safe and informed. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum has been an around-the-clock warrior for his city. Truly, I don't think he slept in the last 2 weeks. Along with Tulsa's city councilors, Phil Lakin, Kara Joy McKee, Vanessa Hall- Harper, and TAEMA Director Joe Kralicek, they have had a constant presence with our people, helping where they can, but most importantly, keeping the Tulsa community informed of where the water was headed, when to evacuate, and where to go. Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, Undersheriff George Brown, and Commissioners Stan Sallee, Karen Keith, and Ron Peters have been vigilant in monitoring the movement of the flood waters and have had an active presence in the hardest hit areas of the city. Wagoner Mayor Albert Jones, Coweta Police Chief Mike Bell, City Manager Roger Kolman, Mayor Evette Morris, EMS Director Heath Underwood, and Sheriff Chris Elliott have likewise been a constant source of strength for Wagoner County. Sand Springs was especially hard hit this past week, and Mayor Jim Spoon has shown true leadership for his community. Vice Mayor Patty Dixon, Councilors Phil Nollan, Mike Burdge, Christine Hammer, Beau Wilson, Brian Jackson, and Police Chief Mike Carter have proven to be an asset to their town and their people throughout this disaster. In Bixby, Mayor Brian Guthrie, City Manager Jared Cottle, Vice Mayor John Easton, Councilors Paul Blair, Brad Girard, and Robin Decatur have gone above and beyond to protect their people. Jenks Police Chief Cameron Arthur, City Manager Christopher Shrout, Mayor Robert Lee, Vice Mayor Kaye Lynn, and Councilors Gary Isbell, Craig Murray, Dr. Josh Wedmen, Donna Ogez, and Cory Box. Bartlesville Mayor Dale Copeland, Vice Mayor Alan Gentges, Councilors Paul Stuart, Jim Curd, Jr., Trevor Dorsey, and Police Chief Tracy Roles. Washington County Commissioners Mitch Antle, Mike Bouvier, and Mike Dunlap, Emergency Management Director Kary Cox, and Sheriff Scott Owen. Collinsville Mayor Bud York. Skiatook Fire Chief Jim Annas, City Manager Dan Yancey, Mayor Roger Upton, and Vice Mayor Herb Forbes. Owasso Mayor Dr. Chris Kelley, City Manager Warren Lehr, and Police Chief Scott Chambless. Catoosa City Manager John Blish and Mayor Brenda Conley. Okay Mayor Brad Matthews, and Johnny Walker. All of these local leaders have been a godsend to their communities during one of Oklahoma's worst widespread natural disasters in memory. Thanks to all of these incredible people that have shown leadership during our time of crisis. Your service does not go unnoticed. During this storm, members of the community decided to stand up and lead, not because they worked for local government, not because they were a first responder, but because they knew there was a need for leadership in their neighborhood. Today, I would like to tell the story of one of those men. Jeremy Herrington is from the Town and Country neighborhood of Sand Springs--one of the communities hardest hit by the floodwaters. After doing his own study of the floodplain maps, Jeremy realized the danger to his neighborhood long before the Army Corps of Engineers or local officials. He took to social media to warn his neighbors to evacuate, and many of them did. Through the Town and Country Facebook page that Jeremy manages, his neighborhood has been transformed into a loving community working together to overcome the disaster. Instead of turning on each other, Jeremy's neighbors have come together to share with each other, support each other, cry together, and give advice on how to recover from the floods. Most of the Facebook group have never met in real life, but the community Jeremy helped create online has bound them together like a family. Now that the Town and County neighborhood is returning home, they are mourning together and beginning their recovery process together. Without the attentive work of Jeremy, his community wouldn't have been notified of the danger in time. I am thankful for Jeremy's work to keep his neighbors informed. I am sure his community is grateful for his dedication as well. The most important thing we can do to prepare for disaster is to communicate. In that regard, Oklahoma's First Congressional District was in the most capable hands. The meteorologists and storm chasers in our media market have been working around the clock to keep people informed of the weather, telling them where to go and what to do in case of disaster. Some of the hardworking team includes: Mike Collier, Brandon Wholey, Kirsten Lang, Clint Boone, Dan Threlkeld, Chris Nestman, Caroline Brown, Katy Kramer, James Aydelott, Michael Seger, Laura Mock, Brad Carl, Megan McClellan, Stacia Knight, Michael Grogan, Alan Crone, Stephen Nehrenz, and of course, Travis Meyer. Without the thorough preparedness of these teams, the Tulsa area would have faced unimaginable devastation. When the skies are clear and it is smooth sailing, it is easy to overlook the work that these people put in day and night. But after the past 2 weeks, it is undeniable the essential role they have in our community. My deepest thanks to our hardworking meteorologists and brave storm- chasing teams that have kept us informed and safe. The work is not over. The floodwaters have not disappeared yet, and they are all still working hard to keep our community informed. We had the worst floods in history and lost no lives, which is a testament to their communication. Our law enforcement officers, like many in our community, have worked tirelessly to protect our people through the storms. Some, like Captain Jason Morrison and Sheriff Corporal Mike Heisten, are volunteering their time on dive teams to rescue missing persons and people stranded in the floods. Dealing with the quick-moving, murky floodwaters is challenging, to say the least. It is a scary task, but these men answered the call to action because they knew their community needed them. In a flood situation as dire as we had in Oklahoma last week, whole towns were being evacuated. Entire cities were underwater. There were places completely shut off from the rest of the State because all the surrounding roads were underwater. In this kind of danger, who goes back for those left behind? Who goes in to find the victims of the storms? Captain Morrison and Sheriff Corporal Heisten did. We can never fully comprehend the danger that these disasters bring to our homes until they are here. Captain Morrison and Sheriff Corporal Heisten did not hesitate to step into the path of danger to keep their community safe, and for that, I am eternally grateful. The devastation of these floods extends well beyond the homes and lives of the people of Oklahoma's First Congressional District. Countless businesses took on disastrous amounts of water over the last few weeks. Many businesses had to shutter completely, and many will need extensive repairs before they can reopen. The River Spirit Casino Resort along the Arkansas River is one of those businesses. The resort has become a key destination in Tulsa, and it was forced to shut down during one of the most profitable travel holidays of the year, Memorial Day weekend. Instead of leaving hundreds of employees out to dry, River Spirit continued to pay these employees during the flood and will continue to pay these employees until the resort is able to open and resume operations, well into July. Likewise, HollyFrontier Tulsa Refinery, located on the Arkansas River, has chosen to continue paying employees for the duration of their building's closure. HollyFrontier is even helping displaced employees pay for hotel rooms. These companies are going above and beyond to help their employees during a time of crisis, and it deserves recognition. I would be remiss to speak tonight on all local heroes of the last few weeks and not talk about a woman who has worked tirelessly to keep Tulsa County safe. County Commissioner Karen Keith has been a perennial source of strength not only for the people impacted by the floods but also for the local leaders and responders who have been working to combat the flooding as well. Commissioner Keith is not one to stay safe inside the emergency operations room and direct from inside. She has been out on boats in the floodwaters in the most devastated parts of town every day. She has been out in the community, rain or shine, working across party lines to make sure everyone was safe and accounted for. She has been helping business owners deal with the aftermath of flooded storefronts and helping families navigate disaster aid and evacuation protocols. When water released from the dam was increasing and posing a further threat to Tulsa County, she made sure people in the impacted areas were evacuated and cared for. Disasters like this make or break a person as a leader, and Commissioner Keith has proven her ironclad dedication to the people of Tulsa County. Even now, as the floodwaters begin to subside, Commissioner Keith is still working at all hours to help those who have been forever affected by these storms. I am so thankful for Commissioner Keith and the work she has done to keep Tulsa County safe these last few weeks. Wagoner County is the largest county in the First Congressional District. There was a lot of ground to cover there and a lot of coordination needed for emergency response during the last 2 weeks. Heath Underwood, the Wagoner County director of emergency management, was the man to coordinate it all. When floodwaters came for his community, he kept all the moving pieces of disaster relief functioning and running smoothly. It has been a never-ending cycle of rainfall, water release at the dam, and extending floodwaters across Wagoner County, but Heath weathered it all. He coordinated rescue efforts for people stranded in their homes and on highways across the county. I am sure those who were stranded are thankful for his dedication. Our local leaders have proven absolutely dependable and honorable throughout this entire disaster, and Heath Underwood is right up there with the best of them. There are so many people who have proven absolutely vital to our community throughout this time of disaster. I could not be more thankful for our leaders or proud of our people than I am after experiencing the trauma of the last 2 weeks in my district. In times of disaster, true colors will show. While these tornadoes, storms, and floods could have brought out the worst in Oklahoma, it brought out the very best and bound us together as a community. The friendships forged in the fire of absolute devastation will outlast these floodwaters. They will be stronger than the damage to our homes. Heroes were made in Oklahoma this week, and I am glad to have this chance to share their stories. I thank my colleagues who joined me tonight. It means a lot that my colleagues would join me in shedding a light on the people who have been truly remarkable in our districts back home. The message to take away from all of this is simple: Together, we are stronger. Together, we will get through this. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, to many Americans, this 3- day weekend is an excuse to take a trip, go to the pool, barbeque, and celebrate the start of summer. But to millions of Americans, it's the reminder of the sacrifices that our military men and women make every single day to preserve our country's freedoms. No one understands that sacrifice better than Gold Star Families. The Gold Star Legacy is an organization that honors the memory of our fallen heroes by supporting their families and raising awareness of the struggles that military families go through. The sacrifices and struggles of military families are often overlooked on these holidays, but their sacrifices are just as important to the protection of our country as the ones made by those who answer the call to serve. This Memorial Day, I am grateful for the dedication and sacrifices not only from our military, but also from their families, especially the families of our fallen heroes. I send my sincerest respect and sympathy to our Gold Star Families today. I encourage all Americans to take some time this weekend to reflect on the men and women who bravely serve, the heroes we've lost and the families they left behind.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, our local law enforcement stand in the gap between our families and danger. Every day, they choose to put the safety of our communities above their own. This National Law Enforcement Week, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the many police officers in my district and across our country who protect our families. In Tulsa, just this week, local police caught and arrested 24 individuals in connection to a drug trafficking cartel from Mexico. Operation Smack Dragon made 73 indictments against 29 individuals, seized 3 kilograms of heroin, and $150,000 in drug money. Several of the arrested individuals were in the country illegally. Along with the community of Tulsa, I am so thankful for the officers who put themselves in danger to keep our people safe. It is perhaps more dangerous to be a police officer today than at any other period in history and congressional inaction on key issues has resulted in increased burdens on the police force. I stand with our law enforcement officers today and every day.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I stand with my colleagues today to stress the importance of fiscal health in our country. There is a very real problem here. If we don't address it, we are condemning our children to doom. My colleagues across the aisle like to use the 12 years left hyperbole to talk about the necessity to act on climate change, but they ignore the fiscal cliff we are standing on, a much more imminent threat to the well-being of our country and our people. Instead of addressing the debt crisis, the Democrat majority chose not to draft a budget at all this year. That tells us all we need to know about their priorities. Speaker Pelosi herself said: Show me your budget, and I will show you your values. So, without a budget, what are the majority's values? The RSC budget addresses our deficits and aims to balance by 2025. This budget refocuses spending on our core constitutional responsibilities and limits the growth of government. Forty-nine out of the 50 United States are required to have a balanced budget, but the Federal Government does not have that requirement. A budget that balances is the first and most important step towards financial well-being for our country. I spent more than 30 years as a business owner before coming to Congress. In the business world, a company will fail if they continually spend more money than they bring in. You just can't do it. That is a foreign concept to many of my colleagues here. In fact, several people in this building believe that the best way to address our debt is to ignore its existence entirely. That is just simply ridiculous. Problems don't just disappear. They don't disappear for you or me. You have to take corrective action, and this budget does just that. The former Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis, testified that our national debt is the greatest threat to our democracy. It is rather chilling that we borrow money from other nations to fund things like our military, who then must protect us from the very nations that we borrow money from. We can only defend ourselves on borrowed money for so long. What happens when we run out of other people's money? I find it interesting that Democrats only seem to care about our debt after we start putting taxpayer dollars back in people's pockets. No one is talking about the fact that Democrat proposals coming from Congress will, alone, cost over $100 trillion in new spending. Why aren't we holding hearings about that? This budget is the only budget put forward in the House so far. It deserves our attention and our consideration because we are the only ones trying to right the ship.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Chairman, let's be honest, we are not here to solve a problem today. We are not here to change anything today. This bill will do nothing to help people with preexisting conditions. Something not many people know about me is my family's history with spina bifida. I had an older sister, about 13 months older than me, who died 2 hours after birth because of spina bifida. My older sister, who will turn 50 later this month, has lived her entire life as a spina bifida survivor, spending the first 6 months of her life enduring many surgeries. My mother knew that my sister was going to be born with that very birth defect that took the life of her first child. My sister had her first daughter, Kristen, who was born with a devastating spina bifida condition. During the pregnancies, my mother knew about my sister's birth defect and my sister knew of Kristen's condition. In spite of that knowledge, their lives were not aborted. Kristen has a son who just turned 10. In spite of being in a wheelchair for her entire life of 30 years, Kristen has been an awesome mom to Daniel. Daniel will have an incredible story to tell about his life because his great-grandmother and his grandmother did not seek abortions to terminate the lives of their ``less than perfect'' children. He is alive today, and I am confident he will have an incredible impact on those around him. These aren't nameless, faceless people we are talking about. This is my sister, my niece, and my family. These preexisting conditions have had a massive impact on my life and the lives of my family. These messaging bills are pointless. People need help, not our talking points. Our goal should be success. We should aim to write legislation that has a shot to become law and will change people's lives for the better. The aim of H.R. 986 is not to protect Americans with preexisting conditions, but to interfere with the President's ability to govern. These are real people and real problems that we are ignoring. I believe that life is precious. Every life is worth protecting. We have a lot of work to do and it is time to stop talking and act. That is what we were elected to do here. Mr. Chairman, the American people are tired of these political games.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today in honor of an outstanding educator. Oklahoma's 2018 Teacher of the Year, Ms. Donna Gradel, a finalist for the National Teacher of the Year. Ms. Gradel has dedicated nearly 30 years of her life to education. The success of her students at Broken Arrow High School reflects the passion and dedication that Ms. Gradel brings to teaching. Oklahoma is home to many wonderful educators. Ms. Gradel is a standard-bearer of educational excellence in my state and my district, and she continues to impress us and her peers across the country. Ms. Gradel is well-deserving of her position as a finalist for Teacher of the Year. She represents Oklahoma and our country well and has the support of our entire delegation. Congratulations to Ms. Gradel on this profound honor.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 174. Personal Explanation

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. America has long been the standard of leadership, freedom, and innovation. We do not allow other countries to take advantage of us. While H.R. 9 has many issues, my opposition is founded in its attempt to strip our President of his constitutional executive authority and force us to remain locked in an agreement that hurts American taxpayers. After the Obama administration's international apology tour, it is a refreshing change to have a strong hand at the wheel. I am glad to see President Trump defending our exceptionalism instead of sacrificing our economy for the sake of other countries. My colleagues across the aisle would have us believe that we are headed for doom within a decade, that Americans are behind the curve. In reality, we lead the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while other countries are growing emissions; yet America is paying the lion's share in the Paris Climate Accord. American innovation and technological advancements are second to none. These are the same qualities of American excellence that made us the greatest country on this planet. We should not lower our standards and allow other nations to take advantage of us. This poorly negotiated deal will do nothing to address the growing emissions from China and other industrial countries. It only hurts American jobs, especially the energy industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people in Oklahoma and brings high-paying jobs to my district. These are people who are hurt by the continuation of the Paris Climate accord. I applaud President Trump's leadership on this issue and support his authority to remove us from the Paris climate accord.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of a truly great American. Coach Allan Trimble had a football coaching career spanning 3 decades, including 22 seasons at Jenks High School, piling up 242 wins and 13 state championships. Those statistics alone are impressive, but Coach Trimble's leadership follows him off the football field. His strength of character is visible in everything he does. Coach Trimble always strived to be a positive influence not only to his players, but to the entire student population. He still works as a mentor for our youth today, training up the future leaders of our community and state. He does this with the Trimble Strong foundation, whose mission is to bring faith, hope, and love into the lives of every person they interact with. Coach Trimble takes to heart our calling from God to be the salt of the earth. Every person who has crossed paths with Coach Trimble can feel the impact of his faith and leadership. Even after his diagnosis with ALS in 2016, Coach Trimble continued to be a pillar of strength, courage, and hope for his community and the students that he works with. I congratulate Coach Trimble on a truly spectacular career and thank him for the impact he has had on not only Jenks, but all of Oklahoma.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share the work and life of my April Veteran of the Month, Tulsa's Paul Andert. Mr. Andert, a World War II veteran and Tulsa icon, has devoted the recent years of his life to telling his story to keep alive the memories of the men and women who fought and bravely served our country. He's lent his wisdom to countless student groups, veterans organizations and churches around the country. He appeared on Glenn Beck, authored the book ``Unless You Have Been There,'' about his war experience, and was an advisor on the 2014 World War II film Fury. Mr. Andert dropped out of school at the age of 17, lying about his age in order to join the army. By the time the United States joined World War II, he was leading his own infantry platoon. Mr. Andert led by example, knowing that he could not ask his soldiers to do anything he wouldn't do himself. Spending three years on the frontlines of the war, Mr. Andert had enough near misses with death to fill a book--one he plans to write. At 96 years old, Mr. Andert is still running full steam ahead, pressing forward with his mission to share the stories of those who protected our country. I am grateful for the sacrifices Mr. Andert made to serve our country, and the work he does to preserve the memory of his fellow veterans. Tulsa, and all of America, is better off because of his dedication.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss our Nation's ballooning debt and the lack of interest across the aisle to address this crisis. We currently face a national debt that exceeds $22 trillion and a deficit reaching $1 trillion. President Reagan's chief economic adviser recently called our Nation's fiscal situation ``the most dangerous domestic problem facing America's Federal Government.'' The majority party--so, the Democratic Party--is responsible for producing a budget representative of their values and priorities. Despite our grim fiscal reality, Democrats have made the decision to skip their duty of writing a budget, foregoing the only opportunity to look at our entire fiscal picture. Speaker Pelosi has stated on numerous occasions: Show me your budget, and I will show you your values. So, since the Democrats refuse to pass a budget, do they truly have any values that represent the American people? These are Speaker Pelosi's own words. If my businesses spent money like the Federal Government, I would be forced to file bankruptcy. These wasteful habits are encouraged by politicians who do not see Federal dollars for what they are: hard- earned American taxpayer money. The failure to produce this budget begs the question: Are our friends across the aisle concerned about our national debt? Again, I refer to the Speaker's words: No budget, no values.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor a constituent who truly has left a lasting legacy on our state and our country. Marina Metevalis was just 16 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941. This traumatic event galvanized many Americans to join the army or do whatever they could to serve their country in our time of need. Marina was inspired to apply for a job at the Wichita aircraft plant, putting together the planes that would defend our country. Just a high schooler, Marina took up the mantle of Rosie the Riveter, stepping up to do what was at the time considered ``men's work'' while our troops were fighting the Axis Powers abroad. Marina juggled school work with her job at the aircraft plant, coming home after the night shift to work on homework before getting up in the morning to start all over again. In the years since, Marina has gone on to be an educator, a mother, and an inspiration to many, but recalls her time as a Rosie the Riveter as one of her proudest moments. Marina turns 95 years old today and remains just as full of life and service-minded as she has been her entire life. Congress is pending legislation to award Marina and the many other inspirational women who joined the workforce during World War II, taking on the mantle of ``Rosie the Riveter'', with a Congressional Gold Medal. I look forward to voting for her and our many Rosie the Riveters to be awarded with this honor. She is an example of true patriotism, selflessness, and American spirit. I thank her for her service to our country and the legacy she has left on our community.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Chief Bill John Baker for his many years of service to the Cherokee people and to his community. Chief Baker's service to the Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma has touched the lives of many, whether acting in the capacity of Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, as a Cherokee Tribal Councilor, as PTA President, as President of the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce, or as the coach of local youth sports teams. Personally, my wife Tammy and I can attest to Chief Bill John Baker's dedication to community by our mutual involvement in the Ronald McDonald House Charities. When we first moved to Muskogee Oklahoma, Tammy called Chief Baker to bring his attention to the Cherokee Nation women's use of the Ronald McDonald House--roughly 1/3rd of the House's inhabitants are Cherokee citizens. Without hesitation, Chief Baker stepped up to the plate and asked--how much money does Ronald McDonald House need? Chief Baker's accomplishments have been heralded by his colleagues and neighbors alike. The town of Okay is grateful for the Veterans Monument project that Chief Baker spearheaded. People recall the countless times that he expedited housing assistance for disabled and elderly Cherokee citizens. Chief Baker's friends, neighbors, and those who may not have had the pleasure of knowing him will benefit for years to come because of the extra first response vehicles that he helped secure for the Fire Department and the drivers education cars that he worked to provide for the local schools. All these amazing things that Chief Bill John Baker had a hand in, ultimately help raise awareness of the Cherokee people and their presence in Northeastern Oklahoma. I congratulate Chief Baker on his retirement, as it is well deserved

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Peter E. Luitwieler, an American hero and a true friend to our country's veterans. Mr. Luitwieler served in military intelligence during the Vietnam war, and in January of 1968, when his compound was surrounded by enemy troops and the machine gunners abandoned their posts, Mr. Luitwieler and a brave marine manned the machine guns for hours, keeping the enemies at bay and protecting the lives of their team. For this act of bravery, he was awarded the Vietnamese equivalent of the Bronze Star. After he retired, Mr. Luitwieler dedicated his time to fellow veterans. He now serves as a program manager for Warrior Partnerships of Eastern Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Veterans Connections, and he is a mentor to veterans going through the Tulsa Veterans Treatment Court, going above and beyond to enrich the lives of Oklahoma's veterans. Mr. Luitwieler is an incredible example of the great men and women who have served our country every day. He is the First District's March 2019 Veteran of the Month, and I am honored to recognize him with this award.