Evan Jenkins

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman so much for his leadership on this issue. WOTUS, waters of the U.S., it has really been talked about for a number of years. This is a classic case of Barack Obama, the administration previous to the Trump administration, overreaching its authority. This is executive branch takeover, waters of the U.S., saying that we have got what is called navigable waters and using the executive authority to redefine what navigable waters are. This hurts farmers. This hurts small businesses. The suggestion that just a puddle, a small creek is defined as a navigable water, we know that is simply not the case. Let me remind folks about the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judiciary. We have Supreme Court decisions that were putting a stop to the overreach of the Obama administration's WOTUS rule. Thank you to the courts. We now have an opportunity as the legislative branch. We appreciate the work of the executive branch. We appreciate the fact that Donald Trump and Scott Pruitt and this administration are working to put a stop to it, because the Court said, as we all know, the Obama administration overreached. Now what we are doing, what this appropriations bill provides is the voice of the legislative branch to say, yes, the prior administration overreached; the executive branch historically needs to be curtailed; the courts were right. We need to speak as the legislative branch giving the authority to stop this onerous rule. I applaud the work of the Appropriations Committee. We need to put the legislative stamp of approval on what the Trump administration is doing to stop this overregulation. I thank the chair, and I certainly oppose this proposed amendment.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, due to President Trump's visit to my Congressional District for an event with Secretaries Zinke, Price, and Perry and Boy Scouts from across the United States, I missed votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 407, YEA on Roll Call No. 408, and YEA on Roll Call No. 409.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Thornberry for yielding me the time. Mr. Chair, my amendment proposes to increase the authorized funding for the Counterdrug Program by $10 million. For 30 years, the National Guard has successfully performed drug interdiction and counterdrug activities to support our local communities and our national security. The National Guard partners with local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies, and community organizations to effectively combat the supply and demand for illegal drugs. The National Guard Counterdrug Program works. In the past 4 years, the West Virginia National Guard successfully seized more than $500 million of illegal drugs, black market drugs that are devastating our communities and towns. And as our Nation copes with the devastating drug epidemic, we must fund programs to stop drug trafficking and keep drugs out of our communities. For more than a decade, Congress has consistently provided funding above the budget request. It is important that we continue that support. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Thornberry and his hardworking staff that helped to make this amendment possible. I urge adoption of this amendment.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chair, this should not be a Democrat/Republican issue. This should be an American healthcare issue. This should be preserving and protecting access to quality care. Just like Democrat Congressman Bob Wise in West Virginia 14 years ago set the example, we ought to set the example here of passing this with strong bipartisan support. This is quality care for the American citizens.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for this opportunity. I have been sitting here listening very carefully to this debate. It sounds like a partisan fight. Democrats say this is a bad bill. Republicans say it is a good bill. If you are watching at home, you think: Here we go again. Just gridlock in Washington. Can't get something done. Well, let me tell you and let me suggest that preserving and protecting access to care should not be a partisan issue. Why do I say that? I am from West Virginia, and 14 years ago we passed medical liability reform very similar to what we are getting ready to pass today, including $250,000 caps on noneconomic damages. Why do I know it was not a partisan issue back then is because the Governor of West Virginia who introduced the bill, House Bill 2122, was Congressman Governor Bob Wise. Bob Wise had been a Member of Congress for 18 years as a Democrat here in Congress. He introduced the bill 14 years ago in West Virginia. He signed the bill. It was his bill. The West Virginia Legislature, the House of Delegates, was 68 percent Democrat. The West Virginia Senate was 70 percent Democrat. A Democrat Legislature, a Democrat Governor, and the reform is just like what we are getting ready to pass today. Here is what Democrat Governor Bob Wise said about the bill and why they did it. What was the goal? ``To work together towards a common goal preserving the healthcare system that serves all West Virginians.'' What else did Governor Democrat Bob Wise say? He said, ``This is a prime example of how government can work for the people,'' when he passed this bill and signed it. On the day he signed the bill, this is what Democrat Bob Wise's newsletter said: ``My number one commitment is the health and safety of the citizens of West Virginia?''

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, on June 23, 2016, we experienced one of the darkest days in West Virginia's history. Floodwaters raced through small towns without warning, washing away homes, washing away businesses, and, yes, washing away lives. Twenty- three souls were lost, while thousands were left without shelter and food. Now as we approach the 1-year anniversary of this tragic event, we pause to remember those we lost and honor their lives. We reflect on how our communities changed over this past year. We pledge to continue rebuilding until our towns and our cities are better than they were before the rivers rose. We have seen so many examples of strength, faith, and hope in this past year, examples that carry us forward and inspire us all. More work remains to be done. We still have churches, schools, libraries, and other community centers that need to be rebuilt, replaced, and restocked. Many are still in temporary and rental housing. The scars still remain. But the message that we should carry forward is the one that carried us through this terrible event: the knowledge that West Virginians will always have each other's backs. We are stronger when we stand united than when we stand alone. Through everything that lies ahead, we will stay strong. We will thank those who put their lives on the line to help rescue others. We will remember and honor those whom we lost, and we will continue to offer our support to those who are rebuilding their lives. That is what we do as neighbors. That is what we do as friends. That is what we do as West Virginians.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Gerard J. Oakley, Jr. of Huntington, West Virginia. Dr. Oakley served his country as a medical officer in the United States Air Force during Operation Desert Storm, retiring after 20 years of service with the rank of lieutenant colonel. After serving in the armed forces, Dr. Oakley made his home in Huntington with his wife, Tanyia, and their four sons to continue his practice as a gynecologic oncologist. Dr. Oakley has spent the last 20 years providing quality cancer care for patients in his community, both through his private practice and with the Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition. Dr. Oakley has been recognized as a leader among his peers on numerous occasions, from service as the leader of gynecologic oncology at Marshall University to chief of staff at Cabell Huntington Hospital. Dr. Oakley was instrumental in the founding of the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center in Huntington and has been serving as its medical director. Dr. Oakley helped the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center obtain its certification as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program and brought new technologies in radiation oncology and robot assisted surgery to the cancer center, allowing patients to have cutting-edge cancer care close to home. I thank Dr. Oakley for his leadership, his service, and all he has done for the people of the great state of West Virginia in the fight against cancer.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, too many men and women who have served our Nation in uniform find themselves without stable, secure housing. Statistics show a veteran is almost twice as likely as a civilian to experience homelessness. I rise today to recognize the work the Huntington, West Virginia, Area Habitat for Humanity is doing to reduce veterans' homelessness thanks to its Veterans Housing Initiative. Because of this Habitat initiative and support from the Huntington VA Medical Center's Homeless Veterans Resource Center, veterans can now make down payments and complete volunteer hours to buy their homes. I recently toured some of the homes built through this program in the historic Fairfield neighborhood in my hometown of Huntington. So far, 10 homes have been built, and 5 are now called home by veterans and their families. The housing not only helps veterans, but it also helps the community. These homes will help revitalize the neighborhood, an area filled with possibilities. It also frees up more housing for other veterans in need. As a veteran moves into one of these homes, his or her previous rental or apartment or room is now available to someone else in need. I am grateful to all the Habitat volunteers and staff who are part of this life-changing project. Thank you for what you are doing to give back to those who gave so much for our Nation. Veterans in Huntington now have a brighter future and a path to homeownership.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Israel Independence Celebration in my hometown of Huntington, West Virginia, that took place on Sunday, May 7. This event honoring the establishment of one of our nation's greatest allies was made possible by the hard work of Jewish Charities of Huntington and Christ Temple Church of Huntington. I thank Linda Klein and Pastor Chuck Lawrence for their steadfast leadership as well. Just like West Virginia, Israel's greatest strength is the resolve and resilience of its people. I witnessed firsthand the importance of the relationship between our two countries during my recent visit to Israel, where it was evident that the nation is under threat like never before. That is why I will continue to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs so that it will never be able to obtain a nuclear weapon. I have also been a vocal supporter of placing stronger sanctions on Iran until it no longer financially supports terrorist groups that pose a threat to both Israel and the United States, and to providing aid and support to Israel to help it defend itself. Israel will always have a friend in the United States, and in me. I congratulate the citizens of Israel on 69 years of independence and look forward to many more years of friendship between our people.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my constituent, Lonnie Carpenter. Lonnie, a lifelong Wayne County resident, served his country as a seaman onboard the USS Ault destroyer during the Korean War. After his service, Lonnie returned back to his home in the beautiful hills of West Virginia and started a family with his wife of more than 63 years, Edna Davis. Together they had three wonderful children, and Lonnie provided for them through his career in the banking and finance industry. Lonnie is a proud Mason, having been conferred the 33rd Degree, and chronicled the history of Freemasons in many articles for the Scottish Rite. Lonnie also served a term as a councilman for the town of Ceredo and volunteers his time for numerous organizations that have improved the lives of the people of his community. I thank Lonnie for all he has done for the people of West Virginia and for his service to our nation.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, time is running out to do right by our miners, their families, and their widows. At the end of the month, the benefits they worked their lives for will expire. For families across West Virginia, that would be nothing short of devastating--families like Teresa Anderson of McDowell County. Her father, Donald Richardson, worked his whole life in the mines of West Virginia. Teresa shared with me what these benefits meant to her father and to her mother, Mary. Here is what she wrote: ``I remember from a young age listening to him tell me and my brothers stories about the mines and teaching us about his United Mine Workers benefits and to let no one take advantage of this most precious insurance that he fought and worked so hard for. ``He would say, when I'm gone, you need to still protect these benefits that we worked for. This is how your mother will make it when I'm no longer here to provide for her.'' Mr. Speaker, Donald is no longer with us. He passed away back in 2012. Now his wife, Mary, and his daughter, Teresa, are asking us to keep his promise, to keep our promise, the promise the Federal Government made to our miners more than 70 years ago. I urge my colleagues to act and to protect these vital benefits. Mr. Speaker, we cannot let the clock run out on our miners and their families. They kept up their end of the bargain. Now it is time for us to do the same.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, due to unforeseen travel delays, I was forced to miss Roll Call Vote Number 209. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 209

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, coal communities in my district and across America and across Appalachia are struggling. The war on coal has decimated many small towns and left thousands of hardworking coal miners without jobs. Help is on the way--the RECLAIM Act, introduced by Congressman Hal Rogers. I am proud to be a sponsor with him. The RECLAIM Act will send $1 billion in Federal funds to Appalachia to revitalize and diversify coal communities and to create new jobs. For West Virginia, that means nearly $200 million over 5 years to invest in our coalfields. This money will allow us to redevelop abandoned mine lands, bring new companies and industries to West Virginia, and provide more jobs for our people. Now, the RECLAIM Act doesn't mean we are giving up on coal. Far from it. Coal is our heritage and must play an important part in our State's future. But while we are bringing back our coal jobs, we must also look at how we can redevelop these former mine sites. Many of these sites are currently sitting vacant, and our towns and counties just don't have the funds to redevelop these sites so that their job-creating potential can be unleashed. The RECLAIM Act will prioritize hard hit States like West Virginia and help employ hundreds of laid-off West Virginians to prepare these sites for new developments and new industries. In addition, once these sites are open for business, new employers will create hundreds, if not thousands, of good-paying jobs. The RECLAIM Act can be and should be part of the solution to revitalize our coal fields. I want to say thank you to Leader McConnell and Senator Capito in the Senate for their leadership on this measure as well. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to join us in supporting this important legislation and helping Appalachia.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I met last week with a group of West Virginia coal miners who are worried about their future. They are worried about their pensions and healthcare benefits that will expire soon, benefits that they worked their whole life to earn, benefits the Federal Government promised them more than 70 years ago. During our meeting at the UMWA Career Center in Beckley, I met Preston Thomas of Raleigh County. He spent 36 years in the mines before retiring in 2010. Preston relies on the healthcare benefits he earned to provide prescription drug coverage for his wife. If this coverage is allowed to expire in April, his wife will no longer have access to the medications she needs. Mr. Speaker, Preston is asking--I am calling on--Congress to keep the promise we made to him, to his fellow miners, to their wives, to their husbands, to their widows. We must pass legislation I have cosponsored to protect these hard-earned benefits. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation and protecting the hardworking miners like Preston. We owe it to all of them to keep our word.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to say thank you to Mr. Frelinghuysen for the outstanding work and effort that he has put into this critically important piece of legislation, and I thank Chairwoman Granger for her strong support in advancing this much-needed legislation. The people before me have talked so eloquently about our responsibility as Members of Congress to defend and protect our Nation. We have talked about national security. We have talked about troops. We have talked about battling terrorism. And that is what this bill does. I want to take a slightly different approach and say something about what this bill does in all of our communities, not just distant lands around the world, but in our home communities. I want to highlight one area that will make a real difference in all of our communities, and that is the National Guard's Counterdrug Program. This program is essential in detecting, disrupting, and curtailing drug trafficking. It provides resources to almost every State and territory to help train personnel and run counterdrug missions. The National Guard supports almost 60,000 requests a year for assistance from local law enforcement agencies. In fiscal year 2014, National Guard counterdrug programs took almost $12 billion in illegal drugs off the street. This minor investment is paying major dividends. During NDAA consideration, I helped secure an amendment to increase funding for this account by $30 million because this program works. This legislation under consideration today also increases funding for this vital program by $135 million more than the amount requested by then-President Obama. This is a critical moment in combating the drug crisis, and we must fully fund every program that will help us solve it.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, my home State of West Virginia has almost 20,000 coal miners. Tens of thousands more worked in the mines and are now enjoying a well-deserved retirement. They proudly mined the coal that powers our Nation, and it puts food on their table. These miners worked hard each and every day, and we owe them a debt of gratitude. Our Nation made them a promise to take care of them if they developed black lung disease. And for decades now, the Federal Government has guaranteed black lung benefits, and the so-called Byrd amendment 7 years ago reiterated that commitment to our miners. As we draft healthcare reform here in Congress, I urge my colleagues to maintain these essential black lung benefits for our miners and their families. I have introduced legislation to affirm our commitment to protecting the Byrd amendment and these critical black lung benefits. I introduced it last Congress, too, and I am committed to continuing to fight for it because we cannot let our miners down. While mine safety continues to improve, we must guarantee that our miners have the benefits they need in case they are diagnosed with black lung disease. These benefits provide critical support for our retired miners and their families. For some disabled miners, it may be the only income they have. In West Virginia, almost 5,000 families rely on these benefits. This is a promise we made to them, and it is a promise that we must keep. Just as we have relied on our miners to mine the coal that built the skyscrapers and won world wars, our miners should be able to rely on us. I urge my colleagues to support the protection of black lung benefits and to honor the hard work of our miners.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. Like so many folks, I have been fighting this misguided rule for years. Miners have been fighting this rule for years. And States--bipartisan, Democrat and Republican--have been fighting this rule for years. Stopping this rule matters to West Virginians, to our miners, to our families, to our consumers. We produce 95 percent of our electricity from coal. It is reliable and it is affordable. Coal employs 20,000 West Virginians, and tens of thousands more make their living related to coal. The loss of a coal job and the closing of a coal mine affects us all. Its severance tax revenues help to fund our schools, pay for our police and fire departments, and put money in the coffers of our local governments. This rule would cost cities and counties $6.4 billion in tax revenue over a year, with the decline in coal mining. That means even more cuts. When we lose coal jobs, we lose other jobs as well. When coal families lose a paycheck, they aren't able to buy goods and services like they used to. That hurts small businesses, our shops, and our restaurants. It is estimated that this rule would kill 281,000 coal jobs and related jobs in other fields. My State can't afford to lose any more jobs, and I know that goes for other coal States. However, despite these facts and the objections of more than a dozen States, the Office of Surface Mining adopted a go-it-alone approach. They ignored input that contradicts their agenda. They withheld information on the rule and restricted States from reviewing it. Well, that ends today. I thank Chairman Bishop, I thank the House Natural Resources Committee, and I thank the leadership of the House for their support on this resolution. Thank you, Senator Capito and Leader McConnell, for your leadership in the Senate. We also have the support of the White House on this resolution. With a simple majority vote in the House and the Senate, we will end this rule and stop this job-killing, anticoal agenda. I urge support on this joint resolution.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson and to celebrate his legacy with all of you at Marshall University. We are proud to call Dr. Woodson one of our own in Huntington, West Virginia, and to celebrate his work to honor and remember the achievements of African Americans. During Black History Month, it is only fitting that we stop to remark on the life of the Father of African-American History. Dr. Woodson dedicated his life to educating others, becoming one of the first African Americans to earn a doctorate in history from Harvard University. He returned to his alma mater in Huntington, Douglas High School, where he became the principal and shaped the lives of countless West Virginians. He also documented the important contributions African Americans have made to our nation's history and ensured their accomplishments were not forgotten. The Carter G. Woodson Lyceum at Marshall University will carry on his legacy and provide Black History Month events for the Marshall and Huntington communities. I wish you well as you celebrate the life of Dr. Woodson and the contributions of African Americans during the month of February.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, the ACA, ObamaCare, or whatever you want to characterize it as, is broken, and we are here to fix it. We want to empower patients. We want to bring health care back to the American people. Let me talk about access to insurance coverage. People have less access today to insurance coverage than at actually any time in the past. Instead of competition to bring down and drive down insurance costs, one-third of the counties in the United States have only one choice of an insurance carrier, which is no choice at all. No competition. Insurance carriers are pulling out of the exchanges en masse, citing unsustainable costs because of ObamaCare. The American people are demanding change. Enough is enough. They want relief. They want competition. They want lower costs. They want better quality. We are here to fix ObamaCare and honor the promise to the American people to empower the patients of America to give them the choice, the quality, and the cost control they so desperately need and that ObamaCare robbed them of.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, we are about to vote on the REINS Act, which will hold our agencies accountable to the people of America. I am a proud cosponsor of this regulation, this legislation. If a regulation has a high economic cost, then the people, through Congress, have to approve it before it goes into effect. The REINS Act is one of several bills we will be considering this week to stop business as usual in Washington. We will be saying ``no'' to the overregulations of the last 8 years, ``no'' to the radical anti- coal agenda that has closed coal mines and cost my State of West Virginia thousands of jobs, ``no'' to a Federal Government that won't even come to West Virginia to hear how their regulations affect us. West Virginians have had enough. They want change. They want their voice to be heard. They want to work hard and put food on their table. I am here to stand up for West Virginians: families, miners, and small businesses. I urge my colleagues to support the REINS Act.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Amendment II: ``A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.''

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, in this new year, we must make things right for our miners and their widows. We must act now to keep the promise. We must honor their work in the mines by protecting the pensions and healthcare benefits they worked their whole lives to earn. We must pass legislation I have cosponsored to protect these hard- earned benefits for families like Rita Blankenship of McDowell County who wrote me asking for help. Here is what she said: ``My husband was promised healthcare coverage in 1975 when he went to work in the mines and joined the union. I am asking if you could do everything possible to get this passed so we will have health care,'' she wrote. These miners and their families deserve no less than what they worked their entire lives to earn: the peace of mind that comes with a pension and secure health care. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting legislation to protect our miners, their widows, and their families. We owe it to them to keep our word.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Teresa Deppner, the clerk of the U.S. District Court Southern District of West Virginia, who recently received this year's U.S. Courts Director's Award for Outstanding Leadership. In 1976, Ms. Deppner started her career as deputy clerk in Huntington. Her commitment to public service is exemplary, as she has spearheaded innovative initiatives to make her courts more efficient in the handling of lawsuits, improving document accessibility, and tackling an always increasing case workload. Her appreciation and respect of the arts is noteworthy, and I commend her on her role in bringing the first-ever judiciary fine arts program to the courthouse in Charleston for lawyers, judges, jury members and constituents to enjoy. A staunch supporter and advocate for her hometown of Huntington, her vision, experience, and strategy in her professional life have paved the way for a plethora of successful philanthropic projects for the tri-state area. I wish Ms. Deppner well and send my best to her husband, Greg, and their two huskies, Sapphire and Aurora. I offer her my appreciation and gratitude for her commitment to her neighbors and our state.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, miners and their widows in West Virginia and across the country are asking us to protect their pensions and health care, families like Robin Workman of Boone County, who wrote to me about how she and her husband depend on these benefits. These are the benefits that they earned. She said: ``My husband put in 35 years underground, a promise made to them shouldn't be broken. West Virginia helped keep the lights on back then as well as today. Please don't forget about us.'' This promise dates back to 1946 when the Truman administration signed an agreement with coal miners, an agreement that guaranteed their pensions and health care would be there for them when they retired. Now that agreement--no, that promise--is in jeopardy. In just a few weeks, tens of thousands of miners and widows will lose their health insurance. These miners have back problems, knee problems, and breathing problems, all from their work in the mines. They simply cannot go without insurance. Kenny Meade's father is one of those retired miners. He lives in Chapmanville and reached out to me to share the story of his parents. Kenny wrote about his father. He said: ``He worked 31 years in the mines and often for less than other miners so he could bargain for their right to health care and pensions.'' This is an issue we can fix, but it is not an issue that arose overnight. The war on coal has decimated coal jobs in West Virginia and across the country. An onslaught of overreaching Federal regulations have made it harder to mine coal and harder to burn coal. Coal-fired power plants have shut down, making electricity more expensive and reducing the market for coal. As demand has decreased and regulations have made it harder to mine coal, mines are closing and companies are filing for bankruptcy. A company in bankruptcy isn't going to have the resources to meet its pension obligations. All of these market forces, regulations, and the war on coal have had devastating impacts on our miners and their families. It is time for Congress to act to keep the promise and protect the benefits the miners worked their entire life to earn. The Coal Healthcare and Pensions Protection Act won't cost taxpayers anything. It uses existing funds paid for by mining companies to provide for retired miners. This is not a tax. Taxpayers won't be on the hook for these pensions. This is about ensuring a promise made is a promise kept. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the holiday season, I hope we will remember the retirees and widows worried about what the new year will bring. We must act now to pass a solution to this crisis to keep our word.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dear colleague, mentor, and friend as he is concluding his 6 years as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. I have had the honor and pleasure of serving with Chairman Hal Rogers for the last 2 years. Since day one of his chairmanship, he has been the driving force to revive the appropriations process. Anyone who knows Chairman Rogers, knows his top priority is regular order. During his chairmanship, he has managed 140 appropriations bills on the floor, and managed more than 600 important oversight and budget hearings and markups. He has worked every day to ensure that the taxpayers' dollars are being used wisely and responsibly. He has stopped wasteful spending, saving the country billions of dollars. He has also invested in higher priority programs, those that help keep our Nation on the right track, keep us safe, keep us secure, fight against drug abuse, and promote critical rural infrastructure needs. He has never lost sight of his home in Kentucky and the people he represents in Congress. Their priorities are his priorities. I know this well because my district is right next door. We are only separated by the Tug Fork River, a small, narrow body of water that goes through the hills of Appalachia. Chairman Rogers and I share the good people of Appalachia. We know the greatness of our people. We know how hardworking they are. It is the coal miners, it is the farmers, it is the factory workers, it is the teachers, it is the backbone of America we both have the honor of representing. I have been able to see firsthand Chairman Rogers' commitment to the people of Kentucky, his fight for the coal miners and retirees, his fight of the opioid crisis that is devastating communities throughout our region and this country, his support for education, and his leadership in creating the SOAR program, shaping our Appalachian region. Chairman Rogers has left an indelible mark as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. We thank him for his leadership in that role over these past 6 years. We have a better Appropriations Committee because of it and a better institution here in the House of Representatives, thanks to the leadership of Chairman Hal Rogers. I ask my fellow Members to join me in thanking him for his service as chairman. I am honored to look forward to working with him in his continuing capacity here in the House of Representatives. Thank you, Chairman Rogers.