Doug Lamborn

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I would only say that, when there is a population of 300,000 sea lions, I would not call that endangered. They are protected under a Federal law, but they are not found to be endangered or threatened, as far as I know. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Schrader), who is also a bipartisan cosponsor of this bill.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gerald and Carol Clark, who have long been the driving force in Teller County, Colorado and champions for the cause of liberty. For many years, the Clarks have been devoted servants to countless civic leaders throughout Teller County and have always been highly regarded for their steadfast commitment and dependability. Teller County will never be the same without the Clarks. The following testimonials speak to their personal character and the standard they set for generations to follow: ``Carol and Gerry have always been synonymous with the term `American Patriots.' ''--Hon. Robert C. Balink ``It's difficult to describe Carol's love for this country and how valuable her contributions have been over the years to the cause of freedom. She is always striving to make things better. We will miss her tireless efforts immensely. Needless to say, Gerry has been her constant companion for many, many years, supporting her at every step of the way.''--Norma Thompson ``Carol has been an awesome leader . . . due in part because she was always such a `doer'. We have all been blessed because of you.''--Carolyn Fairchild ``Carol and Gerry were the backbone of Teller County and I, along with many others from far and wide, are honored to call them friends. I whole heartedly endorse and petition the United States House of Representatives to recognize Carol and Gerry Clark for their patriotism and unmitigated duty to the citizens of Teller County Colorado and the Pikes Peak Region.''--Pete LaBarre ``Gerry and Carol Clark of Woodland Park, Colorado, are true patriots. Driven by true American Principals and a hard work ethic, they have led many others to stand up for these principals by actively working to advance public education on important matters of policy on the local, state and national levels. Gerry and Carol Clark were usually the first to volunteer for the long hours of staffing information centers and organizing volunteers. They tirelessly gave of their time and treasure to ensure others had access to reliable information and always communicating in civil and polite ways with those whose views differed from their own. They have both truly made a difference in the things that mattered. Their honorable service to our community, state, and nation deserves our heartfelt gratitude.''--Cheryl and Norm Steen, Teller County Commissioner ``Words are inadequate to express our gratitude and appreciation of the incomparable work and attitude you have displayed. Saying goodbye is never easy especially to people who have been such valued team members. We wish you all the best for now and into the future. If you can learn that is good. If you can teach that is life changing.''--Doloretta & Robert Barber It is my great privilege to honor these legendary citizens of Teller County, Colorado from the halls of the U.S. House of Representatives. I thank Gerry and Carol for their faithful service and for leaving an indelible mark on the people of Teller County.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Idaho, and I appreciate his remarks. I also thank the chairman of the Armed Services Committee from Texas. Let me point out that in the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, Secretary James Mattis conducted a very clear-eyed assessment of nuclear threats. He said: ``We must look reality in the eye and see the world as it is, not as we wish it to be.'' As has been pointed out, Russia has hundreds and hundreds--actually, thousands--of low-yield nuclear weapons, including nuclear artillery shells, nuclear land mines, nuclear torpedoes, and others that they have announced. Russia regularly trains with its ``escalate-to- deescalate'' doctrine, which they believe will force the U.S. to surrender early in a conflict. Under James Mattis, the Nuclear Posture Review rightly says: ``Correcting this mistaken Russian perception is a strategic imperative.'' Also, dozens of current and former defense officials and military officers have confirmed that this lower-yield weapon is necessary to enhance deterrence. Here is President Obama's last Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter: ``My views are reflected in the latest NPR,'' Nuclear Posture Review, where he agrees with this doctrine. So that is the last two Secretaries of Defense from two different political parties and from two different administrations--very different administrations, I might add--and they are in full agreement that we need to do this for U.S. capability to stop Russian potential aggression. The amendment should be rejected. The agenda behind the amendment is totally outside the bipartisan mainstream of serious national security leaders like Secretary James Mattis and Secretary Ashton Carter. As has been said, I would remind my colleagues that this House has already debated this issue in the fiscal year 2019 NDAA we passed 2 weeks ago by a vote of 351-66--about a six-to-one ratio--and we rejected similar amendments at that time. So I would urge my colleagues to vote no on this amendment.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, for over twelve years, Jerry Forte has served the Colorado Springs area tirelessly and with great success as CEO for Colorado Springs Utilities. During his tenure, Mr. Forte oversaw production of electric, natural gas, and water services for over a half million customers in our area. In his work, he has streamlined large projects in order to save customers money and improve overall efficiency. He will retire this year, but not without leaving a lasting legacy--he has delivered reliable service and low rates to our communities. He also operated the nearly $1 billion utility budget with a high degree of professionalism and incredible stewardship. Community leaders like Mr. Forte are the reason our region thrives and remains one of the best places to live in the nation. As a Colorado Springs native, he understands and appreciates that. Mr. Forte returned to his hometown of Colorado Springs after serving the communities of Sterling, Colorado and Woodland Park, Colorado. He also worked in the private sector as a consulting engineer. He managed Johnson Control's five-service utility in support of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he received awards for excellence in customer satisfaction and leadership excellence. He also has several publications to his credit. Mr. Forte is dedicated to delivering safe and reliable public water and power. I'm extremely thankful for his service and commitment. Our region has been in good hands. Mr. Forte, thank you for over twelve years as CEO of Colorado Springs Utilities and decades more of service to our state. I wish him well and I pray that God will bless him in whatever he decides to do next.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee for the great work he has done and for his leadership on this issue. I do agree with my colleague from California, yes, we need to do modernization. If you will remember, President Obama pledged to modernize our nuclear forces in return for the Senate passing the New START Treaty. The current national posture review, which has been endorsed by security officials from several administrations going back, both Democratic and Republican, says this: Maintaining and operating our current aging nuclear forces now requires between 2 and 3 percent of the DOD budget. The replacement program to rebuild the triad for decades of service will peak for several years at only approximately 4 percent beyond the ongoing 2 to 3 percent needed for maintenance and operations. This 6.4 percent, just slightly under the 7 percent that the chairman mentioned, of the current DOD budget required for the long-term replacement program represents less than 1 percent of the overall Federal budget. That is a bargain. Nuclear warfare is, God forbid it should ever happen, an existential threat. One percent of our Federal budget devoted to preventing that is truly worth investing in. The modernization needs to take place. It is well within the moneys that are going to be available to the Department of Defense in the coming years. I agree with the chairman that projecting 20 or 30 years out contains so many potential inaccuracies, it would be kind of an unnecessary and burdensome exercise, and not very useful. We do have and will have the money. It is a vital investment. I agree with the chairman. Let's turn this amendment down.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee for the great work he is doing on this. We all agree that we want a strong nuclear deterrent, and we all agree we want that deterrent to be as stabilizing as possible. We don't want destabilizing trends. We all agree with that. General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, testified before the House and said: We require a mix of yields and improved platforms to credibly deter the threats of the near future. The National Posture Review directs near-term fielding of a low-yield SLBM capability and, in the longer term, pursuit of a modern, nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile. So the commander of U.S. Strategic Command says we do need this option. And let me also quote James Miller, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy under the Obama administration, the principal author of President Obama's Nuclear Posture Review: ``Secretary of Defense James Mattis' 2018 Nuclear Posture Review offers continuity with past U.S. policy and plans, including those in the 2010 NPR. It deserves broad bipartisan support. Its proposal for a low-yield SLBM weapon and a new nuclear- tipped, sea-launched cruise missile are sensible responses to changed security conditions, especially Russia and North Korea.'' Well, things have changed since 2010. That is what the 2018 NPR addresses. So, from both administrations, from both sides of the aisle, we have agreement that we do need this low-yield option. That is a stabilizing influence, to have more tools in the toolbox. When you have fewer tools, you have fewer options, and that is destabilizing. Mr. Chair, I ask for a rejection of this amendment.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's leadership. The Trump administration is set to announce proposed regulations regarding the title X family planning funding stream, very similar to Reagan-era rules, to clearly separate family planning from abortion services. This is good news and something I have been strongly urging President Trump and Secretary Azar to do. I think it is important to remind ourselves of something very basic: Family planning should determine when to begin new lives. Abortion ends lives. Abortion should never be considered an ethical method of family planning. Under the new proposed rule, counseling or referral for abortion would no longer be required for family planning grantees, and colocation with abortion providers would no longer be allowed. The Trump administration is doing the right thing, as President Reagan did, to ensure that taxpayer money goes to family planning centers that are not in the abortion business. For too long, Planned Parenthood has used title X as their personal slush fund. I will continue to work to find legislative solutions to end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, but until we are able to get legislation through the Senate--and we have gotten it through the House--this will be a significant step forward. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Trump administration.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Citizen Airmen serving in the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing, Air at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Today I recognize their 25 years of dedicated support of the Department of Defense's C-130 Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS mission. In 1993, the Air Force Reserve portion of the MAFFS mission was moved to the 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado from March Air Force Base, California. On October 28, 1993, two aircrews from the 302nd Airlift Wing's 731st Airlift Squadron and maintenance personnel from the 302nd Maintenance Group departed for Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center, California for their first MAFFS activation. Since that first activation, hundreds of Reserve Citizen Airmen have trained, supported and executed the Defense Support of Civil Authorities Mission assisting in the tireless efforts of ground firefighting crews through reaching inaccessible areas by air, supporting the containment of hundreds of wildland fires and saving lives and property throughout the United States of America and Mexico. In addition to supporting fire suppression efforts across the U.S., 302d Airlift Wing Reservists have responded to fires in their own backyards supporting suppression of major Colorado fires including the Hayman fire (2002), Waldo Canyon fire (2012) and Black Forest fire (2013). Innovation is in their DNA, and it comes from the diverse experiences our Reserve Citizen Airmen bring to the mission. We honor all who work tirelessly to support and make this special mission possible both in the air and on the ground. We recognize the hundreds of hours of labor expended by the Reserve aircraft maintenance crews who ensure the MAFFS-equipped C-130s, call-signs MAFFS 2 and MAFFS 5, are mission ready. We honor the highly-experienced Air Force Reserve aircrews flying one of the most challenging missions in the U.S. Air Force. When not supporting the wildland firefighting mission, the 302nd is always ready to answer our nation's call with the agility to shift to its tactical airlift mission supporting rapid global mobility. Today, it is also important to remember the six Reserve Citizen Airmen who lost their lives in support of the MAFFS mission, specifically the crew of SUMIT 38, a MAFFS support mission from Boise, Idaho that did not make it back to Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado on May 13, 1995; and four members of the crew of MAFFS 7 from the 146th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard who were lost during a MAFFS mission in White Draw, South Dakota on July 1, 2012. Today, the Reserve Citizen Airmen from Colorado's Peterson Air Force Base along with their Air National Guard counterparts continue to provide the surge support to wildland firefighting efforts when requested by the National Interagency Fire Center at a moment's notice. To make it happen, we seek the best and brightest minds from across the nation to fill critical career fields such as Air Force Reserve pilots and maintenance technicians. Today, in 2018, the continued bravery, sacrifice, expertise and dedication to this mission by our Reserve Citizen Airmen has allowed for 25 years of unwavering support of the MAFFS mission by the Air Force Reserve at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3144, introduced by Mrs. McMorris Rodgers of Washington, was considered by the subcommittee I chair, Water, Power, and Oceans. It looks to provide certainty and reliability to the Federal Columbia River Power System in the Pacific Northwest. This system includes four large dams in the lower Snake River in Washington State that provide the region with a number of benefits, including renewable emission-free hydropower. Despite all of these benefits, the power system has been mired in third-party litigation for decades. Some litigious groups have focused their efforts on removing the four dams in the Lower Snake under the false assumption that it will improve endangered species. In reality, however, these dams already have survival rates for salmon in the upper 90th percentile. Most recently, a Federal court ordered round-the-clock spillover of the Columbia and Snake River dams that went into effect last week. These additional spills will do little to help the fish species, and in reality, do nothing more than leave the region's ratepayers to foot a spill surcharge estimated to cost up to $40 million per year. This bill ensures that the power system is operated in accordance with the current operations plans until certain reasonable targets are met. It was found to be legally and scientifically sound by the Obama administration, and has resounding support among stakeholders in the region. We need to ensure that science is guiding the operations of the power system and not judicial orders and special interest ideologies. We need a consensus approach by local stakeholders, not a mandate imposed by judicial fiat. This bipartisan bill is supported by trade unions, the Farm Bureau, regional stakeholders, and a number of public utility districts. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this good piece of legislation.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, two thousand eighteen marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, commonly referred to as ``NORAD.'' The United States and Canada, bound together by our history, our values, our economy, our environment, and our resolve to improve the lives of our citizens, have long enjoyed a close relationship that has allowed for continuous collaboration building a prosperous future for the people of both countries. The United States and Canada have stood shoulder to shoulder in defense of security for more than 100 years, as partners and allies in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, throughout the Cold War, in Afghanistan, and as part of the Global Coalition against Daesh; working together to advance our shared values. As indispensable allies in the defense of North America, on May 12, 1958, the United States and Canada signed an official agreement creating the bi-national North American Aerospace Defense Command and formally acknowledged the mutual commitment of both countries to defend their citizens from air domain attacks. This cooperation is an important element of United States and Canadian contributions to the collective defense provided by the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The North American Aerospace Defense Command enjoys a unique status as the only fully integrated bi-national military command. The North American Aerospace Defense Command is headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, with three subordinate region headquarters located at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, for the Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR); Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, for the Continental NORAD Region (CONR); and Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba, for the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR), along with three subordinate sector command centers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, for the Western Air Defense Sector (WADS); Rome, New York, for the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS); and Canadian Forces Base North Bay, Ontario, for the Canadian Air Defense Sector (CADS). The missions of the North American Aerospace Defense Command are to provide aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning to defend North America. The North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command current operations center is connected to a worldwide system of sensors that provides the Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command with a common operating picture of aerospace and maritime threats. The Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station hosts the Alternate Command Center for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command. The Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command provides integrated tactical warning and attack assessments to the Government of the United States and the Government of Canada. The North American Aerospace Defense Command uses a network of space-based and ground-based sensors; airborne radars, fighters, and helicopters; and ground-based air defense systems to detect, intercept, and, if necessary, engage air domain threats to North America. The May 2006 renewal of the North American Aerospace Defense Command Agreement added a maritime warning mission to the slate of responsibilities of the Command, which entails a shared awareness and understanding of the ongoing activities conducted in United States and Canadian maritime approaches, maritime areas, and inland waterways. The North American Aerospace Defense Command provides continuous surveillance and defense of North American airspace from further airborne aggression or attack, as occurred on September 11, 2001, through the ongoing Operation NOBLE EAGLE mission. The North American Aerospace Defense Command will continue to evolve to address the ever- changing nature of the threats to North America and adapt to future shared security interests. The outstanding service of United States and Canadian service members from Active Duty and Reserve Component forces and civilians serving at the North American Aerospace Defense Command is central to the ability of North America to confront and successfully defeat aerospace threats of the 21st century. The continuation of this successful relationship between the United States and Canada through the North American Aerospace Defense Command is paramount to the future security of the people of the United States and Canada. Today, we therefore recognize the contributions made by the North American Aerospace Defense Command to the security of North America, commemorating 60 years of excellence and distinctive service by the men and women of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, reaffirming the critical missions of the North American Aerospace Defense Command headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and supporting the role of the North American Aerospace Defense Command in providing binational defense of the United States and Canada in the 21st century.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Hawaii for her support and great work in committee. This is something that has a lot of bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, I would ask all Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 835 is a bill that I am very pleased to have introduced with bipartisan support from my friends, Congressman Scott Tipton and Congressman Jared Polis, both of Colorado. Specifically, H.R. 835 would increase the current 6,000 acres to 6,300 acres and allow the National Park Service to accept the donation of 280 acres currently being held by the Palmer Land Trust and Coalition for the Upper South Platte into the monument's boundaries. The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument was designated by Congress in 1969 to preserve and study one of the most diverse fossil deposits in the world and to interpret its geologic significance. Located in a high mountain valley just west of Pikes Peak in my congressional district and 35 miles west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, the monument features detailed fossils of insects, plants, and giant petrified redwood stumps that teach visitors about prehistoric Colorado. The park also maintains a collection of over 12,000 fossil specimens, conducts inventory and monitoring of the fossil sites, has ongoing collaborations, and continues to be the subject of scientific publications. Many of these extraordinary fossils from the monument can be found in some of the most prominent natural history museums in the world, with the largest exhibit of perhaps 10,000 specimens located close by here in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The monument also offers a variety of recreational experiences, including sightseeing, stargazing, interpretive visitor center exhibits, hiking, picnicking, daily ranger-guided programs during the summer, junior ranger programs, and curriculum-based education programs for visiting school groups. It is truly an excellent addition to the National Park Service. Expanding the monument will provide critical access to the park's western boundary for wildfire protection and opportunities for completing future hazardous fuel mitigation projects, while also providing additional wildlife habitat. In addition, the donated acreage could, and will, provide visitors with more recreational opportunities, including hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and wildlife watching, all with no supplement funding or staff needed. The proposed monument boundary expansion has received unanimous local support from all stakeholders; including, the State of Colorado, the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds, Sanborn Western Camps, Teller Historic and Environmental Coalition, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Palmer Land Trust, Coalition for the Upper South Platte, the Pikes Peak Historical Society, and the Teller County Board of Commissioners. This bipartisan bill is a great example for how the Antiquities Act should be applied, with strong local support, consensus, and engagement to identify and conserve the ``smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected.'' That language, Mr. Speaker, is from the original Antiquities Act itself. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 835) to update the map of, and modify the maximum acreage available for inclusion in, the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

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

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks).

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4851) to establish the Kennedy-King National Historic Site in the State of Indiana, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4851, introduced by Congressman Andre Carson and cosponsored by Congresswoman Susan Brooks, would establish the Kennedy- King National Commemorative Site in Indianapolis, Indiana. Additionally, the bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to include the site in the newly established African American Civil Rights Network, and it authorizes a special resource study to evaluate the national significance of the site and determine the suitability and feasibility of including the site as a unit of the National Park system. On April 4, 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy had scheduled a speech in Indianapolis during his campaign for the Presidency of the United States. Just prior to giving his remarks, Mr. Kennedy was informed of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He then changed his planned remarks to, instead, inform the large gathering of Dr. King's death. In this historic speech, he called upon Americans to embrace nonviolence in reaction to the news of Dr. King's assassination. Senator Kennedy stated: ``What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be White or whether they be Black.'' The site where Senator Kennedy delivered the speech is currently located in a city park established in 1961 and has since served as a community gathering place. In 1994, the Landmark for Peace Memorial sculpture was erected on the site of Senator Kennedy's speech. April 4, 2018, marks the 50th anniversary of Robert Kennedy's speech and Dr. King's assassination. I commend Representative Carson and Representative Brooks for working across the aisle on this bipartisan and important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman King for his endless and tireless leadership in reminding us of the humanity of the unborn. I am a proud cosponsor of the Heartbeat Protection Act. I am one of those 170 who have stepped forward to support this much-needed piece of legislation. The development of an unborn baby is truly miraculous. Around 6 to 8 weeks, you can detect, through ultrasound, the heartbeat of the little child inside the mother's womb; 6 to 8 weeks. So I don't see how people can deny that an abortion is the taking of a human life. How many lives would we save if we remembered that simple fact? What if instead of rushing to abortion, which some people think is their only option, we instead turned our attention to addressing practical needs, the needs of a woman facing a pregnancy decision? What if we empowered women to carry and raise their child? Or what if we did everything we could to promote a stable and happy life for the child through adoption? America was built on the principle that life is a God-given gift. Here, in Congress, it is our duty to protect human life at all stages. I will continue to do so, and I know Representative King will continue to do so. I thank him for his leadership. I am glad that I can support him with this wonderful piece of legislation.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this issue and for putting this hour together. Mr. Speaker, I have reviewed the secret memo in a secure setting. After having reviewed the contents of the classified memo relating to FISA abuses, I support its full release to the public. Americans deserve the truth, and Congress should always strive for transparency. I am stunned at the previous administration's underhanded surveillance methods and misuse of power at the highest levels of the FBI and Department of Justice. This should never have been permitted to happen. Moreover, all Federal agencies, including the FBI, should be held to a high standard and always be held accountable for their actions. The issues that the memo raises must be brought to light and dealt with responsibly. I am pleased that the House Intelligence Committee voted tonight to release the memo, but our work does not end there. We must continually strive for integrity and openness within all levels of government.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, there are some issues we debate here in the House that, frankly, should not be a matter of question in anyone's mind. One of those is whether or not a baby born and is outside of the womb deserves protection. Sometimes abortion attempts fail and babies are born alive: its heart is beating, muscles moving, and lungs working. Tragically, some abortion providers then kill these infants directly or through neglect and exposure, and this is unconscionable. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act says that a baby who survives an abortion must be treated at a hospital with the same care as a baby born alive naturally at the same state of pregnancy. The bill includes criminal sanctions against any abortion provider who kills a baby born alive. Mr. Speaker, killing a baby outside of the womb is unquestionably the taking of an innocent human life. I urge unanimous support of Representative Blackburn's bill.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is named after Taylor Force, and I wanted to say what a special honor it is that his parents are with us here today. I would like to especially thank the Speaker and majority leader for bringing this legislation to the floor for a vote. I also want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their leadership and strong bipartisan support. I introduced this bill last Congress and reintroduced it this Congress with Representative Lee Zeldin because we absolutely must ensure that American taxpayer dollars don't incentivize terrorist attacks on our own citizens as well as Israelis. This commonsense measure now has 170 cosponsors. I think most of the American people are aware of Taylor's story by now, but it bears repeating again as we prepare to vote on this legislation in the people's House. Last year, a 28-year-old American student named Taylor Force was visiting Israel on a school trip. While walking near the beach in Tel Aviv, a 22-year-old Palestinian stabbed him to death in a terrorist attack. Taylor Force was an Eagle Scout, West Point graduate, and a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan. He represents everything any parent could want their son or daughter to be. As we know, Mr. and Mrs. Force lost their treasured son in this terror attack. They were left with only photographs and memories. The terrorist who murdered Taylor was killed shortly after by the police, but the killer's family was left with something else: a lucrative financial reward. The Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, gives financial rewards for terrorist attacks. The more people killed in an attack, the higher the financial reward. Families of terrorists receive a pension for life, which is triple the average salary in the West Bank, as well as a receiving free tuition and health insurance, a clothing allowance, and a monthly stipend. More money goes to these kinds of payments than go to the entire civil service of the Palestinian Authority. This must be stopped. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and send as strong and clear a message as possible that the United States will not allow our taxpayer dollars to be used to incentivize terrorist attacks.