Fred Keller

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Robert C. Zimmerman, Jr., on being named the 2019 Person of the Year by the Rotary Club of Sunbury, Pennsylvania. This recognition is well-deserved for someone who has exemplified the attributes of public servant leadership in our community for over 50 years. Bob began his service to our community by serving our country in the United States Marine Corps, then later in the U.S. Army Reserve. His service also includes active work in community organizations like the United Way, the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Sunbury Area Community Foundation. For the last 43 years, Robert has been working in his family business, Zimmerman Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, where he continued Zimmerman's long tradition of treating customers like family. On behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, I again congratulate Robert C. Zimmerman, Jr., on being named Person of the Year by the Rotary Club of Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, we are now in week 2 of the ``public phase'' of Speaker Pelosi's and Chairman Schiff's impeachment inquiry. What comes to mind is a song from 1980 by REO Speedwagon. I am not going to do this any justice, but here it is: ``I heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from another . . .'' That is the evidence that has been presented in private and in public: no substance. In fact, Mr. Morrison and Ambassador Volker, both of whom claimed to have firsthand knowledge, testified they witnessed no bribery, no quid pro quos, and no illegal actions by President Trump. Yesterday, Ambassador Sondland said: ``I never heard from President Trump that aid was conditioned on an announcement'' of investigations. Here is what it is: We are talking about innuendos, thoughts, and feelings, but no facts. That is what is happening. That is what has happened in the SCIF when it was rehearsed, and that is what is happening in the public performance this past couple of weeks.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, an important time for us to highlight the need for more research and better community awareness on this disease. The statistics surrounding lung cancer are astounding. Approximately 541,000 Americans living today have been diagnosed with lung cancer at some point in their lives. While the rate of new lung cancer cases over the past 4 decades has dropped 36 percent for men, it has risen 84 percent for women. That is why I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 2222, the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act. This bill would evaluate and identify opportunities for more research, preventive services, and public awareness campaigns. Research shows that there is a disparate impact of lung cancer on women, especially women who have never smoked. More research is needed to understand why this is happening and what can be done to stop it. Preventing cancer should never be a partisan issue. We should be working together to combat the scourge of cancer for the benefit of patients, families, and survivors. H.R. 2222 is a bipartisan effort that would do just that.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, I congratulate the Loyalsock Lancers Marching Band on their recent State championship at the 2019 Cavalcade of Bands. The Lancers 2019 show entitled, ``Heart of the Machine,'' Tin Man's journey to finding his heart, has been noted as leaving fans on their feet cheering during halftime events at football games and during their competition season. The Loyalsock Lancers Marching Band has a rich history of success, winning the 2017 Cavalcade of Bands, being 20-time Tournament of Bands Region 4 champions, and marching in the National Outback Bowl parade. The band is the only band in North America to open for the performing group DRUMLine Live. Even given this rich history of achievement, band director Ryan Bulgarelli said that the 2019 Lancers are possibly the best in school history. Again, I congratulate the Loyalsock Lancers Marching Band on their recent State championship.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, this week the American people saw the first public impeachment hearings in a generation. These hearings are happening after weeks of a sham process where witnesses auditioned, questions were rehearsed, and testimony was selectively leaked by Democrats as they tried to craft their narrative. Unfortunately, despite the start of public hearings, Democrats are continuing to audition witnesses, holding two more secret depositions in a SCIF this week. This sham impeachment of President Trump is continuing despite four undeniable facts that the Democrats have ignored since day one: One, the transcript of the phone call shows there was no discussion of conditionality; Two, both President Trump and President Zelensky said there was no pressure; Three, Ukraine didn't know the military aid was being withheld; and Four, the aid was ultimately released, and Ukraine didn't have to do anything. There is no ``there'' there. It is time to move on and work on things that will benefit the American people, like passing the USMCA, truly bipartisan prescription drug reform, fully funding our military, and taking care of our veterans. Let's move past this partisan process and get to work on the issues that will benefit every American family.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, congratulations to the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce on being named the Chamber of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals. Located in Shamokin Dam, the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber has been in operation for 99 years and is a conglomeration of other local chambers, some of which are older than the main organization. It was named Chamber of the Year based upon its organizational strengths, including programs that encourage networking and a chamber ambassador program. The chamber's most recent success is in attracting Luzerne County Community College to open a branch campus in Watsontown, Pennsylvania. Chamber officials credit its success to the work of its members and staff working together to achieve positive economic outcomes for the people of the Greater Susquehanna Valley. Again, congratulations to the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and to president and CEO Bob Garrett on receiving the Chamber of the Year award.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, while traveling across Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, our team consistently hears from employers with open positions about a skills gap of trained labor. Employers and individuals seeking jobs should have every tool available to fill open jobs needed with skills. That is why celebration of National Apprenticeship Week is so important. National Apprenticeship Week brings awareness to the growing skills gap by highlighting the benefits of apprenticeships. Apprentices earn wages during on-the-job training, while receiving instruction and having supervision from a mentor. Apprentices also learn important soft skills like work attendance, being a team player, and having a positive work attitude. Additionally, employers train students in skills they need, often creating a direct pathway from training to employment. Apprenticeships have been working across PA-12. Partnership opportunities exist between employers--including energy developers and educational institutions--to have apprenticeship-like programs. Programs like these and apprenticeships across the country have proven to grow the economy, lower student debt, and lead to family-sustaining careers. Please stand with me in support of National Apprenticeship Week.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, last week I joined several dozen of my colleagues at the SCIF in protest of the secret impeachment inquiry. Seventy-five percent of the elected Members of Congress have been shut out of this impeachment inquest. This whole inquiry is a sham led by the Speaker of this House and her impeachment czar, the chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Their attempt today to try and open these proceedings is nothing short of Soviet glasnost--a fake transparency that only leads to less participation, more secrecy, and less due process. Madam Speaker, this is too little too late. You can't unring the bell on this sham process that is your high watermark in seeking to undo the 2016 election at all costs. Case in point: while saying there will be a resolution to try and bring transparency to these proceedings, this inquiry has continued to take depositions in secret. Democrats in this Chamber have been acting like bank robbers after they have tripped an alarm and they are trying to shove as much money in the bag as they can before the police get there. We demand due process.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I had to miss votes due to a commitment in Pennsylvania. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 579, Previous Question H. Res. 650; NAY on Roll Call No. 580, Adoption of the Rule Providing for Consideration of H.R. 4617; YEA on Roll Call No. 581, Lesko Amendment No. 2; YEA on Roll Call No. 582, Republican Motion to Recommit; NAY on Roll Call No. 583, Passage of H.R. 4617; and YEA on Roll Call No. 584, H.R. 777.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I had a commitment in Pennsylvania preventing me from returning in time for votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 568 on Motion To Table H. Res. 630; ``yea'' on rollcall No. 569, H.R. 4406; and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 570, H.R. 4407.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, the impeachment inquiry being led by the House Democrats is a sham process. Over the last 3 weeks, we have seen a stunning lack of transparency, the failure to provide basic due process rights to the President, the selective leaking of testimony and information, and Members of Congress being refused entry to the closed- door hearings. I was even denied this week the opportunity to review the Volker testimony, despite being on one of the committees responsible for fact finding in this nontransparent inquiry. Since day one, Democrats in this Chamber have been attempting to overturn the results of the 2016 election by any means necessary. They have been so focused on impeachment, that recently it seems like this Chamber, Democrats' friends in the news, and pundits cannot focus on anything else. As Democrats continue to focus on keeping the curtain closed on these proceedings to the public, the minority and the President, the American people are left to suffer without passage of the USMCA, bipartisan prescription drug reform, and border security measures. The people in my district, both Republicans and Democrats, have repeatedly told me they are sick and tired of this nontransparent inquiry, and the fact that Congress fails to do anything other than focus on tearing down the duly-elected President. It is time to stop this nonsense. It is time to stop the madness. It is time to stop the opaque inquiry for the benefit of the American people.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, while our Nation's farmers continue to bear the brunt of the obstruction stopping passage of the USMCA, there is a lot we can do to help our struggling dairy industry. Currently, I am a proud cosponsor of three bills that would do just that and implement the priorities of not just farmers in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, but farmers across our Nation. The bipartisan Dairy Pride Act would provide truth in labeling by preventing nondairy products made from nuts, algae, seeds, and plants from using dairy terms. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2019, introduced by Pennsylvania's own G.T. Thompson, would increase consumption of whole milk in our schools, allowing children to reap the taste and nutritional benefits of whole milk, and is a win-win for both children and dairy producers alike. In addition, the School Milk Nutrition Act of 2019, also sponsored by Congressman Thompson, would roll back another bad policy from the Obama years and would codify that schools may offer flavored low-fat milk in the National School Lunch Program. Mr. Speaker, if Democrat leaders will not bring up the USMCA for a vote and help our dairy farmers by doing things like eliminating Canada's Class 7 milk, then we should act to find other ways to solve these problems for our dairy farmers. These are three bills that are a great start.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I missed votes on 9/20/19 because I was attending a funeral in Pennsylvania. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on H.R. 1423, FAIR Act, and ``yea'' on Amendment No. 1 to H.R. 1423 offered by Rep. Jordan (R-OH).

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely no doubt that Americans pay too much for healthcare. Seventy percent of Americans agree that lowering prescription drug costs should be a major priority for the legislature. During August, I participated in a number of healthcare-related roundtables with medical professionals across Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District. Those healthcare professionals identified a number of ways to help lower prescription drug costs, including patent reform that would help get generics to market quickly and the need to incentivize innovation as a means to find more cures. As such, I am disturbed that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have introduced a pricing bill that is merely for political talking points and, if enacted, would put this country on the road toward socialized medicine. Rather than incentivizing innovation and patent reform, Democrats have introduced a bill that would increase taxes and stifle innovation while raising drug prices, leading to fewer cures. The American people have demanded action on lowering healthcare costs. But, Mr. Speaker, socialized medicine is not the answer. It is time to work together on real solutions in the free market to lower prescription drug costs and find cures for all Americans.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced H.R. 4279, to name the post office in Laceyville, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, after Melinda ``Mindy'' Gene Piccotti. A native of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, Mindy was an Air Force veteran who knew the struggles combat veterans and wounded soldiers face when returning home from duty. Starting in 2009, at the age of 60, Mindy highlighted her commitment to our Nation's Armed Forces by creating Hunts for Healing, based out of Laceyville. Mindy founded Hunts for Healing to help wounded soldiers returning from military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat areas transition back into civilian life by allowing them to experience the joys of hunting, including social interaction and camaraderie. With the assistance of volunteer guides and funded entirely by private donations, Hunts for Healing helps veterans in need of physical, spiritual, and emotional support. For the impact of her life and for her continued legacy in the veterans' community, I urge Members to support H.R. 4279 and name the post office in Laceyville, Pennsylvania, for Melinda ``Mindy'' Gene Piccotti.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Kansas yielding to me. I stand before you today representing the outstanding people of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District to call upon the Speaker to bring up and my colleagues to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, otherwise known as USMCA. Back in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District during the August work month, I heard from our farmers our manufacturers, and energy producers, all of whom would benefit from the passage of the USMCA. Their message to me was clear: We need to complete this trade deal so we can continue hiring, growing wages, and keep this economy rolling. The benefits of the USMCA to our agriculture community are critical. Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District is home to over 10,500 farms, 98 percent of which are family farms. Moreover, our district is responsible for 18 percent of Pennsylvania's agricultural sales. During August, I visited Brown Hill Farms in Tunkhannock. I met with dairy producers at an ag-dairy summit with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and my colleague, Congressman G.T. Thompson. I also attended Penn State's AG Progress Days, Pennsylvania's largest outdoor agricultural exposition. At each visit, dairy producers said the same thing. The USMCA agreement would greatly benefit them by eliminating Canada's Class 7 milk, allowing American dairy farmers to once again sell milk ingredient products in Canada. Canada and Mexico have taken steps to finalize this agreement. What is stopping the United States from doing the same? Right now, the agreement is sitting on Speaker Pelosi's desk. Let's be clear. Failure to bring up the USMCA for a vote is a failure to stand up for American jobs, American workers, and American families. That is a shame because one thing that Members of Congress share is that we want to do what is best for our districts and for our country. Our constituents sent us here to work on things that will actually help people. USMCA will do that by prioritizing American jobs, American goods, and American workers. I thank Congressman Estes for organizing tonight's Special Order on USMCA. Let's work on things that can actually help people. Let's work on things that can have a positive impact. Let's pass the USMCA. Mr. Speaker, let's get this done.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, our Nation's economic prosperity and national security interests are secured due to energy-rich districts like Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District. That is why, during the recent August district work month, while in Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, I visited Cabot Oil & Gas, one of Pennsylvania's largest natural gas producers. On any given day, Pennsylvania's 12th District is well positioned to help make the United States a net energy exporter by producing as much as 10 percent of the country's natural gas. Equally important is the great partner that energy producers have become with local governments and educational institutions. As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, I know the importance of bringing industry and education together to enhance workforce development, especially in rural areas. That is why it made me proud to see Cabot partnering with Lackawanna College School of Petroleum and Natural Gas as a means to provide career-ready job skills in the natural gas industry. Thanks to this partnership, students are able to make family-sustaining wages and have a career in an industry that will remain in Pennsylvania for generations. Congress should use this example, set in Susquehanna County and throughout Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, for how partnerships with private-sector job creators can lead to a better future.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, every Member of Congress was elected to work on issues that will positively impact their districts. As we stand here today, our Nation is dealing with a crisis at our southern border; our seniors are struggling with rising prescription drug prices; our farmers are waiting for a free and fair trade deal with Mexico and Canada; and our veterans deserve the care they have earned. Yet, today, House Democrats are, once again, putting off these important issues and continuing with their partisan investigations of President Trump and his administration. Madam Speaker, this administration has produced 31,000 pages of documents related to the Census. This administration has made five senior officials available for interview. All this is due to a disagreement over a citizenship question on the Census. Madam Speaker, a citizenship question is not new, nor should it be controversial. Every Census conducted by the United States Government from 1820 to 1950 asked about citizenship. Other countries ask about citizenship. The United Nations recommends it as a best practice. The Census Bureau today already asks a segment of the population about citizenship. Let's set these facts aside. Given that President Trump is no longer seeking to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, voting on a resolution to hold two Cabinet members in contempt of Congress is simply a Democratic tactic to waste this Chamber's time and avoid working on the serious issues facing our Nation. Madam Speaker, I urge Members to vote against the resolution so the House can stop this partisan nonsense and focus on meaningful policy.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1847, the Inspector General Protection Act. I thank Representative Ted Lieu for working in a bipartisan manner on this legislation. H.R. 1847 will help ensure that inspectors general vacancies across Federal agencies will be filled in a timely manner. Inspectors general play an important role in improving the operations of the Federal Government. They help combat fraud, waste, and abuse throughout executive branch departments and agencies and promote a resourceful and effective Federal Government. They have assisted us with discharging one of our most important responsibilities, shining the light on areas of the government that need improved efficiency and economy. However, throughout both Republican and Democratic administrations, there have been numerous vacant inspector general positions. Certain agencies have experienced prolonged periods of absent inspector general leadership. For example, the Department of the Interior has been without a permanent inspector general since 2009. Likewise, there are approximately 13 vacant inspector general positions for agencies covered by the Inspector General Act. This bill would require the President to timely notify Congress of a failure to nominate an inspector general for a given agency. The President would also be required to explain why a nomination has not yet been made and provide a target date for that nomination. The bill also calls for increased transparency by requiring the President to notify Congress if an inspector general is placed on leave or changes status. Inspectors general are an indispensable tool to Congress. By ensuring the Federal Government is adequately staffed with inspectors general, we are reaffirming our commitment to rooting out government fraud, waste, and abuse. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 736, the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act sponsored by my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Quigley). Federal agencies are required to produce numerous reports to Congress each year. The reports cover a wide range of topics that give valuable insight into government activities. While some reports are posted on agency websites, most are not available online. It is incredibly difficult for the general public to find reports, especially older reports. Keep in mind that these are reports that the taxpayers paid for in the first place. H.R. 736 will solve this problem. The bill directs the Federal Government to compile all congressionally mandated reports in a central location. The Government Publishing Office would be required to establish an online database where agencies would submit congressionally mandated reports. In order to protect sensitive information, the bill allows agencies to redact information in reports that would otherwise not be releasable to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. The database would provide access to reports free of charge. The reports would be searchable, sortable, and available to be downloaded in bulk. H.R. 736 ensures that these taxpayer-funded reports are transparent and accessible. It will make it easier for both the public and Congress to review and evaluate Federal agency activities. Increased transparency under this bill will allow the public to help Congress hold the government accountable. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin).

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1250 introduced by Representative Babin. The bill names a post office located in Hardin, Texas, in honor of Army Chief Warrant Officer Lucas Lowe. Lucas Lowe joined the United States Army in 2004. He served an 11- month deployment in Afghanistan, followed by a 14-month deployment in Iraq. While deployed, Lowe served as a field artillery radar operator and then as a paratrooper. When he returned home, Lowe attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Chief Warrant Officer Lowe was then assigned to the 149th Aviation Regiment in the Texas National Guard. On December 28, 2016, Chief Warrant Officer Lowe lost his life during a training accident while flying an Apache helicopter. He left behind a wife, three sons, and two daughters. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KELLER

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1526 introduced by Representative Heck. The bill names a post office located in Tumwater, Washington, after Eva Hewitt. Eva Hewitt was Tumwater's first female postmaster. Before becoming postmaster, Eva and her husband owned and operated a drugstore in the small town they called home. The drugstore housed the Tumwater Post Office, and Eva started working there as an assistant. In 1915 she assumed the role of postmaster and served there nearly three decades. Following the death of her husband in 1927, Eva took over the family business and served in both positions until her retirement in 1942. Often described as the heart and soul of Tumwater, Eva was a community leader and a local historian. She spent her free time researching, preserving, and educating the public on the history of the Pacific Northwest. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.