Doug Lamborn

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas and all the other speakers who joined us during this hour. It has been really wonderful to recognize and commemorate the 75th anniversary of National Bible Week. I would like to thank the National Bible Association--the other NBA-- for offering to provide some historical artifacts, which for logistical reasons we were not actually able to bring here in person, ancient Jewish and Protestant and Catholic texts that we could have used as well to read from. I just want to thank each Member here, and I am glad that we have had 75 years of celebrating this wonderful event. It has been a great part of our national heritage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his words. In a moment, we are going to hear from Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina. But let me briefly mention first how the Bible was foundational to the development of our country. Many of the early American settlers came to the New World with the express purpose of following the Bible according to the convictions of their own consciences. One of the first acts of Congress during the tumultuous beginning of our Nation was the authorization of an American published Bible. The war with the British had cut off the States' supply of Bibles from England. Our Founding Fathers understood how important it was for the American people to have Bibles, so in 1782, Congress reviewed, approved, and authorized the first known English language Bible to be printed in America. Throughout American history, many of our great leaders have turned to the Bible for guidance, hope, and faith. President Abraham Lincoln once said of the Bible, in regard to this great book: ``I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.'' And President Ronald Reagan, in his own National Bible Week declaration, which we are celebrating this week, wrote, when he was in office: When I took the oath of office, I requested the Bible be open to II Chronicles 7:14, which reads: ``If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'' This passage expresses my hopes for the future of this Nation and the world. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to come to the House floor tonight to commemorate National Bible Week. We are truly blessed to live in a nation where we are free to worship and read the Holy Scriptures without fear of persecution. There are so many places throughout the world where such freedoms do not exist. In 1941, 75 years ago, mere days before Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared the week of Thanksgiving to be National Bible Week. Every U.S. President down to today has likewise declared this time of year to be National Bible Week. The National Bible Association, in agreement with the U.S. Conference of Bishops, has designated the specific days of November 13 to 19 as National Bible Week this year. This is the week that we can all agree is National Bible Week, and we can recognize the Bible as a foundational building block of Western civilization, the Judeo- Christian heritage, and the legacy that motivated and shaped the founding of the United States. In this hour, we will hear from Members of Congress about why the Bible is important and what it means to them. We are here to recognize National Bible Week. My own experience with the Bible began in 1973, when I was an 18- year-old freshman at the University of Kansas. I was approached by some people who asked me if I knew what was in the Bible. I said that I believed I knew what it was all about, however, I had never read any of it for myself. The only honest thing I could do at that point was to read it for myself. When I read the Gospel of John, I ended up discovering a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who became my Lord and Savior. In that Gospel, He said: I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. Mr. Speaker, I don't know where in their spiritual journey people may be who are listening tonight, but I do know this: it is better to read the Bible for oneself and not just to take someone else's word for what is in it. For me, it made all of the difference in the world. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate National Bible Week, we remember the importance of faith in both our private and public lives. We recognize the Bible's powerful message of hope. We cherish the wisdom of the Bible, and we thank God for providing this Holy Book that has been truly a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes) who is a valuable member of the Armed Services and Judiciary Committees. Representative Randy Forbes will be leaving Congress at the end of this year, and he will be truly and sorely missed.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the subject of this Special Order.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia. I appreciate the words, the wisdom, and the heartfelt nature of what he just spoke to. I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. LAMBORN

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

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), my friend and colleague from the Third Congressional District. I serve with Representative Tipton, and his district includes Pueblo. Many times we have discussed what is good for the people of Colorado and what we can do to help, where the Federal role is appropriate; and I have to tell you, Representative Tipton is a strong fighter and tireless in serving his district, and especially Pueblo itself.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would ask the House to support this. I think this is one of those opportunities where, with strong bipartisan support, we can pass this legislation and honor the memory of a true American hero, as Representative Tipton and the ranking member of the subcommittee have both talked about. This is appropriate for Pueblo, I agree. Pueblo is the home of heroes. They got that name because there were so many people from Pueblo who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor. I don't know if there is something in the water or what, but it is touching to see that kind of patriotism coming out of the people of Pueblo. That really warms my heart. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3283 to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Pueblo, Colorado, the PFC James Dunn VA Clinic. I am grateful to this bill's sponsor, Senator Cory Gardner, for his efforts introducing this legislation. I am also grateful to my colleague and friend, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tipton), for his work championing this bill in the House and ensuring that Private First Class Dunn is honored for his service. PFC Dunn was a Colorado native and a long-time resident of the city of Pueblo. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942, when he was just 22 years old. While serving in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific theater later that year, PFC Dunn and 12 of his fellow marines were separated from the rest of their patrol and pinned down by hostile fire. After the commanding officer and the second in command were severely wounded, PFC Dunn--on his own initiative and with complete disregard for his own safety--assumed command. In the face of fierce mortar and machine-gun fire, he successfully led his men to cover and eventually to safety. In recognition of his bravery and leadership throughout that incident, he was awarded the Navy Cross. S. 3283 satisfies the committee's naming criteria and is supported by the entire Colorado congressional delegation as well as by veterans service organizations, including the Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add extraneous materials.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3283) to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Pueblo, Colorado, as the ``PFC James Dunn VA Clinic''.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American on his ``third and final'' federal service retirement. Mr. Howard L. Donaldson achieved an impressive career serving our nation in both military and civilian capacities for almost 44 years. His superb military service began as an ROTC Army Artillery Officer in 1969, and continued following a break to earn a Juris Doctor degree (with Honors) from Golden Gate University, becoming barred in California. Mr. Donaldson returned to duty as an Air Force Staff Judge Advocate, serving in three Air Force wings, 16th Air Force, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Air Force and United States Special Operations Commands. He was a noted civil law instructor at the Air Force Judge Advocate General School, and a barred U.S. Supreme Court lawyer. Mr. Donaldson garnered several awards, including two ``Outstanding Judge Advocate of the Year'' command citations. As 16th Air Force Staff Judge Advocate Mr. Donaldson helped enforce the Dayton Peace Accords in the former Yugoslavian Republic air conflicts. After 28 years of active duty service, Colonel Donaldson postponed his retirement to take a final assignment as the HQ US Special Operations Command Staff Judge Advocate. He served until a mandatory retirement date, retiring the ``first'' time only to be recalled to active duty. His ``second'' military retirement occurred in June 2003, with nearly 31 years of military commissioned service to the nation. In June 2003 Mr. Donaldson then embarked on civilian service as counsel to NORAD/USNORTHCOM. He received the Armed Forces Civilian Service medal for his participation in the support of the Global War on Terrorism. He also provided invaluable legal advice to the commander during hurricane KATRINA, the Haiti earthquake, Russian Long-Range Aviation threat responses, North Korean missile launches, pandemic preparation, CONUS Natural Disaster coordination, and countless USNORTHCOM National Special Security Events. Howard and his supportive wife Sally have traveled the world and sacrificed in and out of uniform while serving our country. I salute this modern American patriot who has provided over four decades of federal contribution. Godspeed Howard and Sally in your ``final'' government retirement.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the First United Methodist Church in Canon City. This week Canon City will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the First United Methodist Church, an anchor to the Canon City community since its founding in 1866. First United Methodist was the first church dedicated south of Denver in Colorado. The church's mission throughout its history has been ``to be a reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ through prayer, praise, and the proclamation of God's Word.'' This intergenerational church has for 150 years endeavored to meet ``the needs of every man, woman, and child, so they are free to experience the life-changing reality of Jesus Christ with no strings attached.'' The beautiful church building stands today at the corner of 8th and Main Streets with 37 stained glass windows honoring leaders and former pastors who have served the community of Canon City. First United Methodist has also served as a gathering place for countless activities--including a special presentation by Hellen Keller in 1914. I admire the church's commitment to mission work both locally, nationally, and worldwide since their founding. They offered food and clothing to settlers in Canon City, spearheaded the Crusade for Christ initiative following World War II--ministering and providing assistance to war torn countries, and to this day they continue to serve by offering a free community meal on the third Saturday of each month with fellowship in Christ's name. While many things have changed in the last century and a half, the First United Methodist Church has remained faithful to its calling to serve God and the citizens of Canon City. It is my great pleasure to recognize the First United Methodist Church in Canon City on their sesquicentennial celebration today before the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the great work. We are going to miss his leadership next year when he goes into other pursuits. He will be sorely missed, and veterans will miss him. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of a missed opportunity in H.R. 5985. At present, the VA is pushing a rule that permits certified registered nurse anesthetists to practice without the supervision of a physician. This is a huge mistake. This bill should extend a 1-year period where the VA cannot implement this rule. Opponents to this provision cited conditions present in forward- deployed locations as justification for implementing a change of this magnitude. Be that as it may, just because certain practices are permitted in forward-deployed locations due to military necessity does not mean that those risky practices should be forced upon our veterans at all other times and places. Our veterans deserve the absolute best care possible. They should not be used as test subjects when the VA tries to change how it delivers services. It is not right for the VA to give our veterans unsafe and risky health care.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Jeff Miller, both in the committee and with this particular piece of legislation. Mr. Chairman, our veterans demand the strong accountability tools contained in H.R. 5620. Since the Phoenix wait-list scandals, very few individuals have been held accountable. Fewer still are those whose disciplinary actions have not been overturned by the Merit System Protection Board. This state of affairs is deplorable. This bill provides VA leadership with the tools to hold all VA employees accountable for their performance and misconduct, not just those members of the Senior Executive Service. This bill is long overdue. Veterans within my district are still experiencing poor service from the VA. VA employees have openly joked in front of our veterans about their immunity to any disciplinary actions for their poor performance. Mr. Chairman, our veterans have earned the privilege of interacting with VA employees who put the veteran first, not their own careers. I urge my colleagues to support this vital piece of legislation.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained for rollcall vote 495. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye''.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of Major General Robert D. Rego on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Air Force following a distinguished 31 year career. A devoted husband and family man, Major General Rego has been an outstanding servant to the United States of America. The son of a World War II veteran, General Rego began his Air Force service in 1985 as a graduate of the ROTC program at UCLA. His first assignment landed him at Grand Forks AFB as an ICBM officer in the 321st Strategic Missile Wing. During his time at Grand Forks, General Rego ascended to the position of Flight Commander while he and his wife, Tricia, welcomed their first two sons, Jarred and Ethan. Following his missile service, General Rego transferred into the space field with a posting as a Space Warning Officer at Cheyenne Mountain AFS in my district in Colorado Springs. During his nearly eight years at Cheyenne Mountain, General Rego welcomed his third and final son, Clayton, and he transitioned into the Reserves, working at local defense contractor Trident Data Systems. During these eight years, General Rego completed important assignments in the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy. Indeed, the mission in Italy and international events worked to return General Rego to full-time active duty service in 1999. Following a term at the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, General Rego returned to Colorado Springs as the Chief of the Space Control Mission Team at Air Force Space Command Headquarters at Peterson AFB. During this assignment, General Rego was deployed forward as an Airborne Mission Commander during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. His outstanding efforts saved lives and earned him a Bronze Star. Following a term at the prestigious Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, General Rego returned to Air Force Space Command for nearly 10 more years that saw him promoted to Brigadier General and Major General before a move to Barksdale AFB to serve as the Vice Commander for Global Strike Command. General Rego's final post has been serving as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt AFB. Throughout his extraordinary career, General Rego has been a consummate officer, always dedicating time to improving and mentoring his military peers and being willing to place the needs of his country over his own personal desires or comforts. It is my privilege to honor this outstanding man who rose from very humble beginnings to achieve greatness. The United States Air Force, and indeed, the whole nation, has been immeasurably improved by the life and service of Major General Robert D. Rego.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. I thank the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 5119, the No 2H2O from Iran Act. It is now clear that a glaring side effect of the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran is that it incentivizes Iran to keep overproducing heavy water--a critical component in the production of weapons-grade plutonium. Because this administration sees no problem with creating a new U.S.-approved heavy water marketplace, it is, thereby, giving Iran a green light to continue overproducing. There should, instead, be serious consequences for Iran's overproduction of heavy water. Under the administration's logic, we are paying and rewarding Iran for being in violation of the nuclear agreement, and we are making it easier for them to have nuclear weapons in the future. It is high time for this administration to admit to the American people and to itself that Iran has no intention of complying with the nuclear deal. We should not give them any more concessions that cost American taxpayers their hard-earned dollars while advancing Iran's nuclear infrastructure.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the new Buffalo Soldier Community Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1866, Congress authorized the establishment of six all African- American units: the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry Regiments--later reorganized as the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments. These regiments were instrumental in the taming of the American West. Their primary missions were to protect settlers as they moved west as well as building the infrastructure necessary to support these new settlements. Unsurprisingly, these mandates were expanded upon meeting the realities of the frontier. These servicemen quickly found themselves assisting civil authorities in controlling mobs; pursuing outlaws and cattle thieves; providing protection for stage coaches; delivering the mail longer than the Pony Express; and serving as the first U.S. Border Patrol and National Park Rangers. One lesser known mission they completed was the mapping of the wilderness as the western development progressed. During their tenure in Colorado, members of the 9th and 10th Calvary and 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments were stationed at Fort Lyon and Fort Garland. These Buffalo Soldiers assisted civil authorities in peace-keeping efforts and participated in many important military conflicts in Colorado's territorial and early statehood history. Between 1867 and 1907, 23 Medals of Honor were awarded as well as 40 Certificates of Merit for valor, endurance and courage. Buffalo Soldiers valiantly served during the Native American Wars, in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War, the Mexican Expedition as well as World War I. Most impressively, these units had the lowest desertion rates in the Army. I want to commend the Colorado Springs Buffalo Soldier Memorial Committee on their years-long quest to establish this Memorial. It is fitting that it will be dedicated during this year's 150th Anniversary of the inception of these units.

Mr. LAMBORN

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, the gentlewoman has raised an interesting point. On the surface, there is some merit to what she says. However, there is one big flaw. She wasn't aware because she wasn't in the hearing, but when BLM came and spoke to our committee, I said to them: States like Colorado are doing a good job already. Why don't you just regulate the States that don't have their own regulation? Well, they said: No. We want to regulate everybody. They really didn't care whether States had good regulations in place or not. So I think they gave away the game. They just wanted to put more regulation on industry. What that means is that you have two sets of regulations to have to wade through, and that is going to shut out marginal plays, it is going to shut out jobs of people that would have been in those marginal plays. So BLM really wasn't interested in listening to the States. They rejected that suggestion, and they just want to regulate everybody. Let's let the States do what they do best. They know their territory, they know their water, they know their geology. They are doing a great job already. No one ever raised any examples of where the States had not done a good job. So let's pass this amendment and BLM can manage the land and not do what the States are already doing. That is the way it should be. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the process of hydraulic fracturing, often used in combination with horizontal drilling, has unlocked vast new American energy resources, making the United States the largest energy producer in the world. This creates tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and lower energy prices for consumers. Despite this technological advancement, the Obama administration, acting through the Bureau of Land Management, has sought to regulate it out of existence by trying to institute new, onerous regulations regarding well construction and water management for hydraulic fracturing operations that take place on Federal and Indian lands. Thankfully, the U.S. District Court in Wyoming recently struck down BLM's hydraulic fracturing rule, finding that the BLM lacks authority from Congress to regulate the process of fracking, and was acting contrary to law. As expected, the Obama administration has filed an appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court. Despite being illegal, these burdensome regulations simply do not recognize the extensive work done by the States to regulate hydraulic fracturing within their borders. The Natural Resources Committee has heard from numerous witnesses from Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and other States, who have testified to the tireless process these States went through to draft and implement their regulations--regulations that are very successful. My home State of Colorado has been safely using hydraulic fracturing for over 40 years, and has the toughest Hydraulic Fracturing Disclosure Rule in the Nation. Even our Democratic Governor, John Hickenlooper, who has actually drunk hydraulic fracturing fluid to show that it is safe, believes it is the State's responsibility to regulate industry. And this amendment will do exactly that by ensuring that States like Colorado can continue to safely regulate energy production based on local geology and conditions without unnecessary and unlawful interference from the Federal Government. One size does not fit all and the States frequently--I think always-- know better than the Federal bureaucrats in Washington do what their geology is like, what their water is like, and so son. So I ask that you support my amendment and allow the current energy renaissance to continue ensuring a stable supply of affordable and reliable energy. This will help drive down prices for gasoline, electricity, and home heating. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, depending on how you look at the budget, we are talking about, like, let's say $11 billion, and they just have to do a better job of prioritizing their work. It is not our fault that they are not doing the required 5-year species review. I think we agree that that should be done. So sometimes you just have to tell the bureaucracy that they need to get on the ball and do the right thing, and that's all this amendment does. And they just have to have a better set of priorities. If they are not following the current law, they just need to get up and do it. So let's pass this amendment. Let's make them follow the law. It is better for all the species involved if we know whether they are being conserved and the efforts behind them are working or not. We need to know that. So let's pass this amendment, make them follow the law. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is straightforward. It simply ensures that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is following current law, specifically, section 4(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act, by conducting a review of all threatened and endangered plants and wildlife at least once every 5 years. Time after time, the Federal Government refuses to follow the Endangered Species Act. The government designates land as critical habitat, despite not meeting the ESA, Endangered Species Act, definition; and the government consistently refuses to remove plants and animals from threatened or endangered status, even when these species are flourishing and are no longer in need of ESA protections. But you may ask yourself: How does the government know when the species should be removed from the endangered or threatened list? How does the government know if a species is recovering? The answer can be found in the ESA and its requirement that the Federal Government reviews all plants or species that are currently listed as endangered or threatened every 5 years. Under the act, the purpose of a 5-year review is to ensure that threatened or endangered species have the appropriate level of protection. The reviews assess each threatened and endangered species to determine whether its status has changed since the time of its listing, or its last status review, and whether it should be removed from the list, delisted; reclassified from endangered to threatened, which is downlisted; reclassified from threatened to endangered, uplisted; or just maintain the species' current classification, the status quo. And because the act grants extensive protection to a species, including harsh penalties for landowners and other citizens, it makes sense to regularly verify if a plant or animal is being properly classified or should be delisted. Despite this commonsense requirement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has acknowledged that it has neglected its responsibility to conduct the required reviews for hundreds of listed species. For example, in Florida alone, it was found that 77 species, out of a total of 124 protected species in the State, were overdue for a 5-year review. In other words, the government had not followed the law for a staggering 62 percent of species in that State. In California, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledged that it had failed to follow the law for roughly two-thirds of the State species listed under the Endangered Species Act and was forced by the courts to conduct the required reviews of 194 species. By enforcing the 5-year review, my amendment will ensure that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is using the best available scientific information in implementing its responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act, including incorporating new information through public comment and assessing ongoing conservation efforts. I encourage my colleagues to join me in ensuring that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service follows the Endangered Species Act and that we do not provide money in this bill that would violate current law. I ask you to support my amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.