Robert Latta

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer a commonsense amendment that prevents the Federal Government from infringing on the Second Amendment rights of sportsmen and sportswomen in Ohio and from around the country. Under the Obama administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives--the ATFE--proposed a new framework for interpreting a Gun Control Act and for determining which projectiles should qualify for the sporting purpose exemption. This framework would have withdrawn the exemptions for certain 5.56-millimeter ammunition, including the M855, because the ATFE felt that they should be classified as armor-piercing ammunition. The M855 is one of the most commonly used ammunitions in the United States and is widely used by target shooters and hunters. Ultimately, due to overwhelming public opposition, the ATFE withdrew their proposal. In order to guard against new attempts to ban this popular and commonly used ammunition, I am offering this amendment, which prohibits the ATFE from using funds to reclassify M855 ammunition. Again, this amendment is codifying the ATFE's own stance. As a lifetime hunter and competitor at the National Rifle and Pistol Championship matches at Camp Perry in Ohio, I fully support our Second Amendment right to bear arms, and I oppose any efforts to intrude on these rights. I believe that is what the ATFE attempted to do in 2015. I also thank the chairman from Texas for his work on this issue in the previous Congress. I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment to protect the rights of sportsmen and sportswomen. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies.

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

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, again, the ATF received over 80,000 comments on their proposal. In their own words: ``The vast majority of the comments received were critical of the framework and include issues that deserve further study.'' Again, this amendment is only codifying the ATFE's own stance. Again, I ask my colleagues to protect the rights of our sportsmen and sportswomen, and to support the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3388) to provide for information on highly automated driving systems to be made available to prospective buyers, as amended.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the gentlewoman, the ranking member on the subcommittee, for all of her hard work on this legislation. Again, we wouldn't be here without the bipartisanship that we had on this piece of legislation. Also, again, I want to thank our staff. There were a lot of weekends and nights that they put in to make sure that we got this bill to where we are today. But, again, as has been mentioned today, we have been talking about what this legislation is going to do. We have been looking at safety, cybersecurity, privacy, making sure that some folks in the community right now who aren't able to get out, some of our senior population, and those with disabilities, have the ability to be able to get around to go to jobs and go to the grocery store. The legislation has been a culmination of a lot of work over two sessions. Again, I want to thank Dr. Burgess for his hard work that he did in the last Congress as the chairman of the subcommittee. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Mimi Walters).

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin).

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Lance).

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Harper), vice chairman of the Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), chairman of the Health Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), chairman of the Energy Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first, let me just thank the gentlewoman from Illinois, the ranking member on the subcommittee, for her hard work on the legislation. I really appreciate it. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 3388, the SELF DRIVE Act, which we advanced out of the Energy and Commerce Committee on a unanimous, bipartisan vote of 54-0 in July. This compromise legislation aims to improve consumer safety by reducing traffic-related fatalities and injuries, clarify the Federal and State roles, and stimulate job growth and economic opportunities. Many of you have heard these roadway safety statistics, but they again bear repeating. Each year, approximately 6 million Americans are involved in car accidents resulting in nearly 2 million injuries. Ninety-four percent of the accidents are attributed to human errors or decisions. In 2016 approximately 40,000 people lost their lives on U.S. highways. Sadly, in my home State of Ohio, traffic deaths have been on the rise over the last few years. We have an opportunity today to support and promote the safe testing and deploying of this life-saving technology. U.S. companies are investing major resources in the research and development of this technology and should not be held up by regulatory barriers that were created when self-driving cars were science fiction. We must act, and we must act now. The SELF DRIVE Act establishes a streamlined path for the testing, development, and deployment of self-driving cars in the United States. While this technology is currently being tested in certain parts of the country, there are limits to who can test and what technology can be used in cars today. Federal motor vehicle safety standards need to be updated because self-driving cars may not have the traditional steering wheels and brake pedals that all cars have today. Additionally, this legislation maximizes opportunities for research and development here in the United States to create jobs and grow economic opportunities so that the United States can remain a global leader in this industry. With this legislation, innovation can flourish without the heavy hand of government. Finally, this legislation will enhance the ability of our senior citizens, the disability community, and individuals in underserved communities enjoy more mobility and live more independently. This legislation is the first of its kind, focused on the car of the future that is more of a supercomputer on wheels. This issue started with our good friend and colleague, Dr. Burgess, who held the first disrupter series hearing on self-driving cars last Congress. Again, we would also not be where we are today if it weren't for the leadership of Chairperson Walden and the great working relationship and cooperation of Ranking Member Pallone, Ranking Member Schakowsky, and Ranking Member Dingell, as well as our many cosponsors. I appreciate their comments, suggestions, and input. We have held multiple hearings, technology showcases, and real-life demonstrations for our committee's members to learn about the opportunities and challenges presented by self-driving cars. I also want to acknowledge the stakeholders who have been willing to work with us. The automotive industry is a competitive and vibrant marketplace and touches every congressional district in the country. In the process of drafting and marking up this legislation, we had over 300 meetings with automakers, tech companies, suppliers, trade associations, the disability community, senior State transportation leaders, and, last but not least, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Safety should and always will be our number one priority. We have said and will continue to say: Safety first, safety last, safety always. I truly believe this bill will make a real difference for everyday Americans. In closing, I want to thank our great staff for their hard work late nights and weekends to get us where we are to this historic vote. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), who is the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and I would like to thank him for all the work he has done on this bill.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. The amendment I am offering today highlights a critical security concern that must be addressed in order to keep the American people safe. Over the past several years, terrorists in Europe and around the world have added vehicular attacks to their deadly arsenal. From Paris to Barcelona and Jerusalem to London, terrorists have rented trucks and vans to commit horrible attacks, leaving hundreds dead and countless seriously injured. While the United States has yet to experience an attack on the scale of those that have occurred in Europe, we must do everything in our power to make sure that the individuals who do us harm do not eventually slip through the cracks. I believe the U.S. Department of Homeland Security should have the discretion to use its funds to explore partnerships with van and truck rental companies so that background checks may be conducted for individuals attempting to procure these vehicles. This amendment is a first step towards recognizing and addressing the potential vulnerability of American citizens to these terrible attacks. It is my hope that I continue to work with the chairman as well as the Committee on Homeland Security to pursue legislative measures that will address the vehicular attacks and actions so that we can guard against them. I thank the chairman, the ranking member, and my colleagues for their support.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bob McLimans, a staple of the radio airwaves in Northwest Ohio for more than four decades. Bob has spent 44 years on the air and will be retiring on September 8. In addition to his on-air role, Bob has also served as the General Manager of the Napoleon-Defiance area for IHeart Media for the past 17 years. In addition to these two jobs, Bob has served as Chair of the Napoleon City Planning Commission for years and is active in his church. Bob's discussions on-air serve his local community and help bring important information to listeners. In fact, he was selected to the Henry County Ag Hall of Fame for his commitment to agriculture on the radio. He also introduced President Reagan when he campaigned in Deshler during the 1980's. Every weekday morning, from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. on 103.1 in Napoleon, you could listen to Bob discuss the local news, weather, sports, and more. Mr. Speaker, Northwest Ohio has been fortunate to have someone like Bob McLimans on the airwaves and serving our local communities for the past 44 years. I'd like to congratulate Bob on his retirement and wish him all the best in the years to come.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I, too, would like to express my sympathies to Mary and all the Regula family on Ralph's passing. I got to know Ralph a long time ago because my dad served here for 30 years. Dad was elected in 1958, Ralph was elected in 1972, and toward the end of their terms that they were here together--of course, Ralph served on for 36 years--their offices were very close to one another. I know that in those days sometimes you had a little more time than we seem to have today, but folks could actually go to one another's office and sit down and chat. I know that Dad and Ralph were very good friends. What has been said by my other colleagues is true; Ralph worked hard. He served his district well, he worked hard, he did his job, he served the people of his district, and he served the people of this country. At all times, though, he always was a gentleman. I know that for a fact because I know that when I was younger, I always liked to be able to come here with my dad, I was able to sit in a lot of meetings, and Ralph was an incredible individual. One of the things that my dad always said was that there was always a difference in life between people who wanted to be politicians and public servants. Dad said that it was very simple: A politician is a person who sees how much they can take from the people they represent for their own benefit, while public servants see how much they can give of themselves to the people they represent. Ralph did this over and over and over again, giving of himself. Marcia and I do want to express our regret to Mary and all of Ralph's family on his passing because, again, we have lost a great friend, a great colleague, and it is tough to say goodbye.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Sean Rattay of Monclova, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Sean's offer of appointment permits him to attend the United States Naval Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2021. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country, but also guarantees a world-class education while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. Sean brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2021. While attending St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio, Sean was a member of the National Honor Society, a peer tutor and a school ambassador. Throughout high school, Sean participated in varsity football, earning numerous achievements and accolades along the way. Sean also led Christmas on Campus and volunteered at Swan Creek Care Center, an assisted living center in Toledo, Ohio. I am confident that Sean will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Naval Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Sean Rattay on his offer of appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Sean will excel during his career at Annapolis, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Samuel Kovaleski of Findlay, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. Sam's offer of appointment permits him to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2021. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country, but also guarantees a world-class education while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. Sam brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2021. While attending Findlay High School in Findlay, Ohio, Sam was a member of the Distinguished Honor Roll and student athletic leadership team. Throughout high school, Sam participated in football, basketball, and track, serving as co-captain of the football team his senior year. I am confident that Sam will carry the lessons of his student and athletic leadership to the Merchant Marine Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Samuel Kovaleski on the offer of his appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Sam will excel during his career at the Merchant Marine Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to him as he begins his service to our Nation.

Mr. LATTA

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to an outstanding student from Ohio's Fifth Congressional District. I am pleased to announce that Olga Budke of Findlay, Ohio has been offered an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Olga's offer of appointment permits her to attend the United States Air Force Academy this fall with the incoming Class of 2021. Attending one of our nation's military academies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country, but also guarantees a world-class education while undertaking one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of their lives. Olga brings an enormous amount of leadership, service, and dedication to the incoming Class of 2021. While attending Saint Wendelin Catholic School in Fostoria, Ohio, Olga was a member of the National Honor Society and was ranked first in her class. Throughout high school, Olga was a USA gymnastics competitor and participated in karate, archery and cross country. She also obtained her private pilot's license. I am confident that Olga will carry the lessons of her student and athletic leadership to the Air Force Academy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Olga Budke on the offer of her appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Our service academies offer the finest military training and education available. I am positive that Olga will excel during her career at the Air Force Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in extending their best wishes to her as she begins her service to our Nation.