Barry Loudermilk

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues to support this strong, bipartisan piece of legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, quite often, as others have already done today, when I have come before this body, it has been to recognize someone who has done something significant in my district or to speak about a bill, whether I was for it or against it, or a piece of policy or an issue. But today I don't have pre-prepared remarks. I just wanted to remind those of us who are here of why we are here. Why do we attend sessions here in this body day in and day out? What is the purpose for our being here? Before I begin remarks, Mr. Speaker, I would like to personally extend my thoughts and prayers on behalf of myself and my family, as well as those of the 11th Congressional District in Georgia, to those victims of the horrific attack that happened last evening in Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am a member of the Committee on Homeland Security as well as the special task force on foreign fighters, and as part of that, we spend a lot of time studying terrorism and the terrorist attacks against this Nation. One thing that I have seen that is consistent about these terrorist attacks is that they are attacking us not because of who we are. Most of them don't even know our names. They may not know our families or what we believe, and it may well be the case in Charleston, as I know it was in Garland, Texas, in the attacks there, they didn't even know their victims. But what I have seen with these attacks of terrorism is they are attacks about what we stand for, and that is freedom. In Garland, Texas, it was an attack on the First Amendment, our freedom of speech. Last night, it was an attack on the most fundamental right that our Founding Fathers gave to us, and that is our freedom of religion, a right that, as they said, was given to us by God and cannot be taken away. Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity since being in Congress a short amount of time--and it is more than an opportunity, it is really a privilege--to take constituents as they come to the Capitol here on tours. As I walk down the Halls of this building and I point out the statue of Thomas Jefferson that we have right outside the Chamber, or even as I stand here, the image of Moses is looking at me as he is looking over the Chamber, as I see the statues of our Founding Fathers, they have left us reminders of why we are here. Mr. Speaker, as we are getting close to the great anniversary festival of the birth of this Nation, I think it is imperative and important that we as a body are reminded of why we are here. I just want to speak briefly about two phrases that you can find in Washington, D.C., that remind us not only of why we are here, but what it takes to preserve the freedom that we have been given. Mr. Speaker, as I walked down the aisle to come to this podium, I just glanced up above the rostrum where you are standing, and I see four words, ``In God We Trust.'' That is one of the phrases that my eyes often go to as I am sitting in this Chamber as we are debating bills. I reflect back on why do we have that phrase here? Well, it also goes back to another phrase that I have seen recently as I was taking a tour of The Mall outside this building, where we have the museums of the heritage of this Nation. There is also a building there, the National Archives. Inside that building are the documents of freedom, the most hallowed of all of our documents: the Constitution; the Bill of Rights; and then the one that we hold the most sacred, the one that is most requested by visitors to this Nation's Capital to see, and that is the Declaration of Independence. In that Declaration, our Founding Fathers expressed what they believed that this Nation would be one day. It was their vision, it was their faith, and it was their philosophy about this new Nation. They were revolutionary ideas that they brought forth because it was the first time in the history of mankind that a government existed with emphasis on the freedom of individual, empowering the individual. Every other government on the face of the Earth before this had focused its attention upon a group, a collective, whether it was by their race or their religion or aristocracy or their family line. But our Founding Fathers sensed something different: if we empower the individual, if we recognize the rights that God has given them and we give them the freedom to excel and exceed, then our Nation, as a whole, would excel. They believed that these rights were important to be protected: the right to speak freely, the right to have ideas, the right to pursue happiness, the right to pursue commerce, and the right to worship without fear of oppression from the government. These were revolutionary ideas. They also knew that they had a challenge. Because of these revolutionary ideas, they knew that they would not be well accepted by other governments because it threatened the power base of those governments. In fact, they knew they would have to take on the most powerful military force in the history of the entire world if they were ever going to see these ideas come to fruition. Now, think about that. This ragtag rabble of Washington's soldiers would have to take on the most powerful military force in the history of the world. It was an impossible task, and they understood that. But, Mr. Speaker, that phrase that is in marble above the rostrum reflects one of those two key phrases, because in the last line of the Declaration of Independence, our Founding Fathers wrote these words: ``And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.'' You see, ``In God We Trust'' was the first element that they identified that we must have if we were going to preserve this freedom that they were fighting for. Now, outside the National Archives, where that Declaration is still on display, are the words, ``Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.'' ``Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.'' You see, that is the second phrase that I think we must be reminded of today. The second part of that last line of the Declaration of Independence says, ``we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.'' You see, freedom is not free, and it is held and it is protected at a price. Just recently, I was given the opportunity to travel to the beaches of Normandy. As I stood upon the sands of Omaha Beach, I started reflecting upon the price that was paid that day for our freedom and our liberty. I brought back a little bit of the sand from the beach, as my dad was in World War II and served in that theater. And as I sat at home right around Memorial Day, I was looking at that jar of sand, and I started thinking: What if these sands could speak? What would they say? What would they tell us in this august body here? What would they tell the people of our Nation if that sand could speak? You see, that sand absorbed the blood of American patriots who had the courage to step off of those Higgins boats into the line of fire, and I wondered why would they do that, knowing that more than likely they would never return back home. You see, that sand absorbed the blood of these patriots. The sand also may be able to tell us of the last words that were spoken by some of those patriots as they drew their last breath after giving their lives, their very lives, for our freedom. Would they tell the name of the father or mother as they cried out their last cry of hope? Would they tell the name of a sweetheart which they will never embrace or a brother or a sister or a child that they will never see? As I started thinking about it, I started realizing that sand held the DNA of these soldiers--not just DNA of the soldiers, but the DNA of our entire Nation. I believe today, Mr. Speaker, that, if that sand could tell us anything today in this body, it is to remember what they died for. I believe, if that sand could speak today, that sand would tell us these words: this is why we died, because we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that amongst these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to ensure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. As we are nearing that celebration--we celebrate 239 years of the birth of this Nation--I call upon the Members of this body to once again reflect on why we are here, and that is to preserve freedom. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to speak. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose this amendment to H.R. 1806 because I support research that will enhance both the economic security and the energy security of the United States. The original America COMPETES Act, which established the Advanced Research Projects Agency within the Department of Energy, ARPA-E, required the agency to only pursue projects that reduce greenhouse gases. The bill before us today, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, allows any advanced energy technology that could enhance U.S. economic and energy security to compete for ARPA-E funding. This levels the playing field and ensures that ARPA-E funds research with the greatest potential to have a positive impact on the American economy. The COMPETES Act provides a balanced approach to ARPA-E by reprioritizing funding towards innovative projects that are truly in need of Federal research dollars. The bill also removes restrictions that allow the administration to play favorites in the energy sector. However, this amendment would strike the language which expands the ARPA-E project eligibility. As a result, this amendment would then limit innovative research and development. With all of the national security challenges we face today, from terrorism, to cybersecurity breaches, to our skyrocketing national debt, we should focus our attention on broadening our energy base and achieving energy independence, not limiting ourselves to one small area of environmental science. I believe we must adopt an all-of-the-above energy strategy that improves our energy security and emphasizes all energy opportunities, including those which reduce greenhouse gases. Congress should not put in place arbitrary limits on innovation that will prevent groundbreaking technologies from across the energy sector from participating in ARPA-E programs. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. That is why I do support H.R. 1731, because it provides that framework of cooperation between the government and the private industry, and it provides the protections and liability protections our industries need. We must have this bill. I do stand in support of it, and I thank you for allowing me this time to speak.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Chairman, over the past 40 years, we have experienced advancements in information technology that literally have transformed business, education, government; it has even transformed our culture. Information research that only a couple of decades ago would take days, months, maybe even years to accomplish is available, quite literally, at our fingertips and instantaneously. Other aspects of our lives have also been shaped by this immediate access to information. Shopping, you can go shopping without ever going to a store. You can conduct financial transactions without ever going to a bank. You can even have access to entertainment without ever going to a theater. These advancements in technology have not only transformed the way we access and store information, but it has also transformed the way we communicate. No longer is instantaneous voice-to-voice communication only available through a phone call, but people around the world instantly connect with one another with a variety of methods, from email, instant text messaging, even video conferencing, and this can be all down while you are on the move. You don't even have to be chained to a desk or in your business office. Really, every aspect of our culture has been affected by the advancements in information technology, and, for the most part, our lives have been improved by these advancements. As an IT professional, with 30-plus years' experience in both the military and private sector, I know firsthand the benefits of this instant access to endless amounts of information, but, on the other hand, I know all too well the vulnerabilities of these systems. For the past 20 years, I have assisted businesses and governments to automate their operations and ensure they can access their networks anytime and from anywhere. However, this global access to information requires a global interconnection of these systems. At almost any time during the day, Americans are connected to this global network through their phones, tablets, health monitors, and car navigation systems. Even home security systems are now connected to the Internet. We have become dependent on this interconnection and so have the businesses and government entities that provide crucial services that we rely on, but as our dependence on technology has grown, so have our vulnerabilities. Cyberspace is the new battleground, a battleground for a multitude of adversaries. Foreign nations, international terrorist organizations, and organized crime regularly target our citizens, businesses, and government. Unlike traditional combat operations, cyber attackers don't require sophisticated weaponry to carry out their warfare. On the cyber battlefield, a single individual with a laptop computer can wreak havoc on business, the economy, even our critical infrastructure. In the past several months, we have seen an increasing number of cyber attacks on national security systems and private company networks, breaching critical information. Earlier this year, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield's IT system was hacked by a highly sophisticated cyber attacker, obtaining personal employee and consumer data, including names, Social Security numbers, and mailing addresses. An old adage among IT professionals states: There are two types of computer users, those who have been hacked and those who don't know that they have been hacked. Today, this is truer than ever before. The incredible advancements made by the IT industry over the past three decades have been predominantly due to the competitive nature of the free market. Without the overbearing constraints of government bureaucracy, oversight, and regulation, technology entrepreneurs have had the freedom to bring new innovations to the market with little cost and in record amount of time. It is clear that our greatest advancements in technology have come from the private sector. That is why it is imperative that the government partner with the private sector to combat cyber attacks against our Nation. The bill being debated in this House today, the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act, puts in place a framework for voluntary partnership between government and the private sector to share information to protect against and combat against cyber attacks. Through this voluntary sharing of critical information, businesses and government will voluntarily work together to respond to attacks and to prevent our enemies from corrupting networks, attacking our highly sensitive data systems, and compromising our personal privacy information. While protecting individual privacy, this legislation also includes liability protections for the sharing of cyber threat information and thereby promotes information sharing that enhances the national cybersecurity posture. We are no longer solely dealing with groups of hackers and terrorists, but individuals who target large networks, corrupt our database, and get hold of private material. With today's evolving technology, we must make sure we are affirming individual privacy rights and safeguarding both government and private sector databases from cyberterrorism. Protecting the civil liberties of the citizens of the United States is a top priority for me, and it should be for this Congress.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, 13 men, 911 miles, and 1 week to make a difference. A group of brave warriors known as the Shepherd's Men set out on a journey that will take them from the Freedom Tower in New York City to the Shepherd's Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Every day, servicemen and -women from across our country return from the fields of combat only to fight another battle at home. While this battle may not include heavy artillery or enemy combatants, it is just as devastating. Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries are disorders that take years--and sometimes a lifetime--to heal. These enemies invade the mind and cause unspeakable pain for those suffering and for their families. For this reason, 13 brave men, whose mission is to raise awareness and funding for those with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, have accepted the arduous task of running from the Big Apple to the Peach State. With each step forward, the Shepherd's Men are one step closer to reaching their goal of raising $250,000 for the Shepherd Center's SHARE Military Initiative, a comprehensive rehabilitation program that provides assistance and support for servicemen and -women who have sustained mild to moderate traumatic brain injury and PTSD from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. While the wounds may have been inflicted years ago, the scars still remain, and that is why the Shepherd's Men run 911 miles with 22-pound packs strapped to their chests. These courageous men do not run for their own glory, but for their fellow servicemembers whose lives may be forever changed by the effects of these conditions. Today, one out of five servicemembers returning home from Iraq or Afghanistan have been diagnosed with one of these debilitating conditions. If left unchecked, these injuries could be life threatening. As our servicemembers return home from Active Duty, it is important for them to know that they do not suffer alone. This morning, the Shepherd's Men are a few steps closer to reaching their final destination. As the Sun rose gently against the backdrop of the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Shepherd's Men arrived in our Nation's Capital. It was here--at the place that memorialized one of the most historic moments in our history--where I joined the Shepherd's Men for a short 1-mile run out of their 911-mile journey. As I stood in the shadow, Mr. Speaker, of the Iwo Jima Memorial, one of the Shepherd's Men following our run came up to me and said: When we go into combat, we know that we may not come back out. And I lost many of my men in combat, and I can accept that, but what is hard is when these men survive combat, and they come back home and lose their life to these debilitating conditions. That is hard to swallow. As a veteran of the United States Air Force, I am extremely grateful to the unwavering commitment the Shepherd's Men have shown to defend their fellow servicemen and ensure that they have the resources they need to begin their road to recovery. Although the road may be long and fraught with setbacks, people across this Nation are going the extra mile to ensure our servicemembers are given the help they deserve. To the Shepherd's Men, Godspeed on the rest of your journey, and thank you for your commitment to our Nation's military.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, after the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Americans from across the Nation were driven by a sudden sense of patriotism, and they sought ways that they could serve their country. One such patriotic American was young Alex Mills of Concord, North Carolina. Although Alex desperately wanted to serve his nation, at only 13 years old, he was too young to join the ranks of thousands of young men and women who were shipping off overseas. Determined to not allow his youth to stand between him and doing something significant, young Alex searched for a way that he could help his country. Now, learning of a newly organized outfit created to patrol the coastline and borders of our homeland, Alex quickly enlisted in the Civil Air Patrol. Throughout World War II, the Civil Air Patrol pilots flew hundreds of patrol missions searching for enemy submarines operating along our coastline. Throughout the war, the Civil Air Patrol spotted numerous German U-boats, and after the planes were fitted with bombs, the Civil Air Patrol crews were credited with sinking at least two enemy submarines. Recognizing the value of this volunteer force of civilians, Congress acted to make the Civil Air Patrol the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Forty-one years after first joining the Civil Air Patrol, Alex Mills was appointed as the chaplain of Civil Air Patrol's Rome Composite Squadron at the Richard B. Russell Airfield in Rome, Georgia. Since taking on the role of chaplain, Alex Mills has continued his exemplary service and has risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He also has been recognized as the Georgia Wing Chaplain of the Year and the Southeast Region Chaplain of the Year. Having had the honor to serve side by side with Lieutenant Colonel Alex Mills during my tenure at the Rome Squadron, I can attest firsthand to his dedication to duty, God, and country. I have witnessed the positive impact he has had on many young Americans who, as he did 74 years ago, joined the Civil Air Patrol as a way to serve their nation. On Sunday, April 26, I will have the honor of presenting the Congressional Gold Medal to Lieutenant Colonel Alex Mills for his lifetime of service and as one of the few remaining charter members of the Civil Air Patrol. Of all those that I have served with during my time in the military and serving in Civil Air Patrol, there are only a few that have had such a positive influence on my life and the life of my family. Without any reservation, I can attest that Lieutenant Colonel Alex Mills is one of those individuals. On behalf of the State of Georgia and Georgia's 11th Congressional District, I recognize and commend Lieutenant Colonel Alex Mills for his 74 years of service to God, community, and country. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. 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 on the topic of my Special Order.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, Georgia's 11th Congressional District is home to some of the Nation's most innovative and leading-edge businesses. One such business has been providing emergency management services to residents in northwest Georgia. Puckett EMS is a family-owned and -operated business with a strong reputation for delivering state-of-the-art medical services to the people of Cobb and Dade Counties. Today, I am especially proud that this business has recently taken the national stage as one of the leading innovators in emergency health technology. In 2013, Puckett Emergency Management Services was recognized by the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce as the Small Business of the Year for its work to support the local community and to ensure the highest level of care. Most recently, Puckett EMS' software company, EMS Technology Solutions, received the Emergency Management Services World Magazine's Top Innovation award for its controlled substance tracking software, Operative IQ. This cutting-edge solution uses biometric technology to track controlled substances from the time the medication is administered to the very last dose. In fact, using this software is a much more secure way of monitoring prescription drug use and bringing medical records in line with today's technology. What is even more remarkable is Operative IQ uses available technology to continually update patient medical records, helping prevent substance abuse. In the emergency management industry, where seconds could mean the difference between life and death, this technical innovation is a lifesaver. I commend Puckett EMS for their tireless efforts to protect the public safety of our citizens and congratulate them on their well- deserved recognition as a top innovator. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand before this body to recognize the contributions the management and employees of Puckett EMS have made to our community and their success in improving the safety and access to critical health care. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. I thank the chairman for the opportunity to speak on this very important bill. Mr. Chair, as I stand in the Chamber here, this historic Chamber, all around the top of the wall here are engraved images of great lawgivers who have influenced this Nation and the great institutions of government we have. As the Prime Minister of Israel pointed out, Moses is in the back, who gave us the natural laws our Founders referred to, but over my right shoulder, just above the rostrum, is the image of Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson wrote about another set of laws and rights that are given to us. He also wrote 27 grievances--27 violations--of either the natural law that Moses wrote about or the natural rights of men that he wrote about in the Declaration of Independence. These were grievances against the King of England for violations against the natural laws or the natural rights of men. The 10th grievance, ironically, that he wrote about can also be seen as a warning to where we are today in this Nation. The 10th grievance says that: The King has erected a multitude of new offices and sent hither swarms of officers to harass the people and eat out their substance. What Jefferson was talking about was the multitude of regulations and regulatory agencies that the King of England had instituted here on the continent of North America. Over the past decades, we have seen a rampant growth not only in the number of Federal agencies that have regulatory authority over Americans, but the scope of the regulations, that they have impacted our very lives. Every moment of your day is in some way impacted by regulation--and I argue overregulation--by the Federal Government. As we speak here today, the EPA is considering a decrease in the amount of acceptable ozone in our atmosphere, which is questionable. Many scientists have said that that level of ozone that they are trying to achieve is unachievable. Even some of the most remote areas of our Nation would not even be able to achieve that. These are areas that don't have any type of industry or significant population. The National Black Chamber of Commerce testified in a committee hearing the other day that this level of ozone in the regulation the EPA is trying to impose would have significant impact on the economy, especially small business owners and minority business owners. Most of their small businesses are in metropolitan areas. This overregulation is eating out the substance of Americans. The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council recently testified that the average American pays $14,974 in hidden taxes. These are taxes because of regulation by the Federal Government. That is $14,000 a year average Americans are spending out of their own pocket because of overregulation. Much of this is because of questionable science that is hidden and not transparent. That is 23 percent of their income.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. While this bill would not fix the overreach of this administration in their regulation, it will bring transparency--that the American people have a right to know that when their rights and their liberties are being restricted by government, that it is substantiated and it is sound science. I fully support this measure. It is one of the most important ones, I believe, that we will do in this Congress.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 123 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the milestone in the life of Mrs. Alliefair Rogers who, this week, is celebrating her 100th birthday. Mrs. Rogers is also, incidentally, a second-generation centurion, as her mother, Ida Jane, also lived to the age of 103. Throughout her life in the past century, Mrs. Rogers has witnessed some of the most significant moments that have shaped our Nation. Born during the onset of World War I, Mrs. Rogers was only 2 years old when America entered the Great War, sending our doughboys across the Atlantic. By the time she was 5 years old, the first radio stations were going on the air in America, prohibition was enacted, and women for the first time had the right to vote. By her 12th birthday, Charles Lindbergh had flown across the Atlantic Ocean, and the first motion picture with sound was played in theaters. At the age of 14, she witnessed the beginning of the Great Depression. Just months before turning 25, Mrs. Rogers learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and, over the next 5 years, said goodbye to family members and friends as they left Walhalla, South Carolina, to fight against the Axis Powers. Before her 31st birthday, she had witnessed the D-day invasion, the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of Iwo Jima, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the surrender of both Germany and Japan. By the age of 33, she witnessed the rebirth of Israel as a nation; and, at 40, America sent troops overseas to fight in Korea. By her 50th birthday, she had lived through the building of the Berlin Wall, America's first satellite in space, the deployment of forces to Vietnam, the Cuban missile crisis, and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. By 60 years old, Mrs. Rogers witnessed the end of the Vietnam war, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the first human to step foot on the moon. Within the next 15 years, by the age of 75, Mrs. Rogers experienced the first resignation of a United States President, the invention of the personal computer, the first woman Supreme Court Justice, the end of the cold war, and the beginning of the space shuttle program. In her lifetime, Mrs. Rogers has witnessed the administration of 17 United States Presidents and a significant portion of this Nation's history. Today, I join with the many friends and family who are celebrating the virtuous and faith-led life of my aunt Mrs. Alliefair Rogers and wish her a very happy 100th birthday.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, during our recess, I had the opportunity to attend Oakland Heights Baptist Church in beautiful Cartersville, Georgia, as they celebrated a very special occasion. While Oakland Heights is a prominent church in our community, it would not be considered a large church in most metropolitan areas. The congregation consists of mostly average, hardworking Americans who love God and their families and are eager to help a neighbor in times of need. Throughout the years, the church has been a beacon of hope to those seeking truth and a haven to those seeking help. As a body of Christian believers, Oakland Heights also believes that it has a responsibility to not only serve our community, but to be an example. Three years ago, the pastor and the congregation of Oakland Heights determined their responsibilities to God and the community included being good stewards; although they were burdened with over $1 million of debt, they had a vision of being debt free. They were determined to pay off their debt within 3 years without affecting their core ministries to the congregation or the community. It wasn't easy. It took sacrifice; but, with determination, they stuck to their plan, lived within their means, and--in less than 3 years--made the final payment on their bank note. During the time they were eliminating the debt, the church gave over a half a million dollars to local ministries, charities, and world missions. In less than 36 months, this relatively small congregation took on a mountain: a mountain of debt. At the end of last week's service, after hearing a sermon about moving mountains, the congregation celebrated as they burned their bank note. Today, I congratulate Pastor Joe McKaig and the congregation of Oakland Heights Baptist Church for achieving this significant goal and for being an example of fiscal responsibility. Mr. Speaker, if a church with a modest congregation in an average community can pay off an overwhelming debt, I believe the most powerful and influential Nation on the Earth should be able to pay off its overwhelming debt; but, just as with this church, it starts with a vision, followed by a plan and a determination to achieve the goal. Mr. Speaker, I have a vision, a vision of a debt-free America. With a goal, a sound fiscal plan that includes living within our means while providing the constitutional services of our government, we can achieve a debt-free Nation. We owe it to our children to 1 day, 1 day soon, write the final check to our creditors and burn America's bank note to the world.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. I thank the gentleman for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay tribute to a constituent, a friend, and a brother in Christ, Timothy F. Johnson, who, on January 30, left this life to spend eternity with our Savior. However, I stand before you today not to mourn the passing of a friend, but to honor a legacy, a legacy of a statesman, a soldier, and an American patriot. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Tim's compassion towards others was evident through the earliest part of his childhood. Joining the Boy Scouts, Tim was able to develop his natural leadership ability, which advanced him to the rank of Eagle Scout by the age of 14. After completing college, Tim's passion for service led him to join the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of major. After a distinguished 21-year career as an officer, Tim retired from active military service, but not from community service. Tim was always committed to excellence. He believed that although we may do good, we can always do better. Not only did Tim dedicate his life to the service, he also inspired others to do the same. As a Black American who completely understood the vision of our Founding Fathers that all men are created equal, Tim wanted to help other conservative Black Americans to pursue elected service. Believing that actions speak louder than words, Tim cofounded the Frederick Douglass Foundation, which today is the largest Christ-centered, multiethnic Republican ministry in America. Tim also felt great compassion for his fellow veterans, especially those returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. To better help them transition back to civilian life, Tim accepted an appointment as the chairman of the Georgia Jail Diversion and Trauma Recovery for Veterans advisory council. Tim never stopped serving others and remained active in minority engagement, veterans assistance, and community service until his passing. My friend, colleague, and constituent, Major Timothy F. Johnson lived a life that epitomizes the traditional American values of faith, family, and freedom. I knew him as a man of strong faith who loved God, his family, and his country. While he will be missed by many of those whose lives were touched by his service, we are comforted to know that what is our loss is Heaven's gain. Godspeed, Major Tim Johnson. Your legacy lives on.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Brat).

Mr. LOUDERMILK. I thank my good friend from the Grand Canyon State. No truer words have ever been spoken. Mr. Speaker, many of us sat in this very room back in January, and we listened to the President as he gave his State of the Union Address. He outlined a complete program, from the cradle to the grave, of what government would do--take over the rights of individuals. Many of us heard from citizens across the Nation that they were opposed to that. Mr. Speaker, if we allow this President to continue on legislating from the Oval Office, I would submit there is nothing standing in the way for him to implement every one of his plans. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, we have heard from Representatives of the people of this Nation from all across the country. So far, I have yielded to Representatives from Florida, Alabama, West Virginia, New Jersey, North Carolina, Arizona, and New Mexico. Now I yield to a good friend and patriot from the State that has seen and has participated in creating so much of the history of this Nation. He is the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry).

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, as you can see, this is a very passionate issue for many of us--not just because of politics but because this is about the heart of our Nation. This is the basis, the foundation of our Nation. I now yield to a good friend and another freshman colleague from the great State of Arkansas (Mr. Hill).

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Again, Mr. Speaker, you can see that Representatives from all across the Nation have stood here today and represented the people of this Nation on how important this issue is. Mr. Speaker, we live in one of the most dangerous times in American history. Innocent American citizens are targeted by extreme Islamic terrorists at home and around the world. On September 11, 2001, even the sanctity of our homeland was proven to be vulnerable. And now, an organization considered too evil and too extreme by other terrorist organizations is calling for homegrown terrorists to carry out unspeakable acts of violence against innocent Americans--acts which we have witnessed in the past year. Since 2001, there have been more than 60 coordinated terrorist plots against Americans on American soil. These perpetrators of evil planned to execute their violence in the places where innocent civilians live, work, and play. They have targeted civilians on aircraft, at military installations, mass gatherings of citizens, sporting activities, restaurants, and shopping malls--the very places where Americans should expect to feel safe and secure. However, the current administration continues to deny the ideology that motivates these acts of evil. When a known sympathizer to terrorist organizations chooses to carry out his evil acts against coworkers, it is passed off as workplace violence. When our Embassy in Benghazi was invaded and officials of the United States Government were slain at the hands of known terrorists, it was spun as a violent response to a YouTube video. When a military pilot of an allied country was murdered in the most horrific and painful way, the President referred to the perpetrators as a cult of death, not extremist Islamic terrorists. With the rise and the expansion of ISIS, our citizens, military, and first responders are in more danger than ever before, and we must be vigilant to protect our citizens and our national interests. Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, our government recognized that the threat of organized and well- planned acts by international terrorist organizations required new and dedicated resources to protect American citizens. In response, the Department of Homeland Security was created, and resources were allocated by Congress to protect our homeland from future devastating acts of terrorism. Since the turn of the century, terrorists have plotted over 60 attacks against our Nation. Thankfully, more than 50 of these were thwarted by U.S. law enforcement and our intelligence community, while others were stopped with the cooperation of law enforcement from other nations. In the past several months, the threat against America has grown exponentially. ISIS is one of the most well-funded, the most organized, the best armed, and the most ruthless terrorist organization in the history of the world. Even al Qaeda, which planned and executed the most devastating attack on American soil since the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, pales in comparison to the organization and resources of ISIS. Recently, ISIS has expanded well beyond traditional communication tactics used by other terrorist organizations and has engaged in an effective Internet and social media campaign to recruit foreign fighters to join their ranks. They are purposefully, Mr. Speaker, targeting our youth by using popular video games to appeal to thrill seekers. They are promising that these young people can live out the fantasy world that they experience in their games. Today, we are experiencing what may be the largest convergence of terrorist activity in history. As a result of the growth and the recruitment of ISIS, foreign fighters are swarming to Syria to join the ranks of the international jihad. While it is virtually impossible to stop every act of terrorism against Americans, I believe the Department of Homeland Security, our military, and law enforcement agencies have done an exceptional job. However, we are only days away from the current funding of the Department of Homeland Security expiring, which, even according to this administration, could put us at grave risk. During the first week of this 114th Congress, the House of Representatives took quick and decisive action to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security will continue to function at full capacity. We passed a funding measure that would ensure that all public safety functions within the Department are fully funded so that the agency can fulfill its mission. Unfortunately, a few Senate Democrats are filibustering this bill and are keeping it from even coming to the floor for consideration. The Democratic Party is putting our national security at risk through their insistence that the President be able to grant 5 million illegal aliens legal status so they can receive work permits, tax refunds, and public assistance. The President's recent executive order on amnesty places the safety of every citizen in jeopardy and eliminates job opportunities for hardworking Americans. At a time when millions of Americans are struggling simply to make ends meet, the President should be focused on providing American jobs, not introducing millions of new laborers into the workforce. Since the President assumed office, he has already issued almost 5.5 million work permits to foreign laborers. The Senate now has the perfect opportunity to protect the safety of all Americans by approving House Resolution 240, a bill that would defund the President's executive order on amnesty, yet they refuse to take up this commonsense measure and do what is right for the American people. By not taking action, the Senate is relinquishing control to the President to continue carrying out these actions without the consent of Congress. Today, my office and the office of every Member of Congress received a formal request from the White House to authorize the President to use military force to fight against ISIS. It is ironic that, on one hand, the President is asking to send our young men and women overseas to fight against terrorism but, on the other hand, he and Senate Democrats are willing to put our security at risk at home so he can, without constitutional authority, saturate the American workforce with foreign labor who have entered this Nation illegally. Instead of working to strengthen our economy and secure our jobs for American citizens, the President seems to be more concerned with providing jobs for illegal immigrants. He has even threatened to veto the Keystone pipeline, a bill that we just passed here just a couple of hours ago. He has already threatened that he is going to veto this bill with one stroke of his pen, a bill that would create more than 40,000 jobs; but with another, he is willing to add 5 million illegal immigrants to an already struggling job market. Mr. President, the American people are hurting. Many families are spending countless hours around the kitchen table discussing how to pay their bills and live within their means. These families should not have to compete for jobs with those who are not legal U.S. citizens. The American people should be calling on the Democrats in the Senate to stop their filibuster of H.R. 240. It is time for the President, Mr. Speaker, and Members of the Senate to put the American people first and help hardworking Americans find jobs. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. 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 material on the topic of my Special Order.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. DeSantis).

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fine remarks by the gentleman from Florida. I now yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), the State from which our Declaration of Independence was passed and the very Constitution we are speaking about was debated and proposed to this great Union.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. I thank my friend from New Jersey for those appropriate words. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to my good friend and freshman colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Walker).