Barry Loudermilk

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5636, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5636, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Campus Security Act. I would like to thank Chairman Smith for his hard work in bringing this bill through the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I chair the Oversight Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and my subcommittee has been involved in the investigation of security issues at the National Institute of Standards and Technology over the past year. Not only did a now-former NIST police officer cause an explosion on the Gaithersburg campus while attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, there was also an alarming incident that took place on the NIST campus in Boulder, Colorado. In April, an individual with no identification, who was not an employee of NIST, was found in a building on the campus. The incident required a summons to county firefighters because of concerns that the individual may have been exposed to chlorine gas stored in the building's ``clean'' room. He was eventually transported to the local hospital, and the incident is currently part of an ongoing criminal investigation. There are quite a few reasons why this situation is so concerning to me. First, how does a non-NIST employee get on a campus, into a secure building, and then into a room where potentially dangerous, hazardous, or poisonous chemicals may be present. Most importantly, how did all this take place without NIST police or security knowledge? And what is the extent of damage that an individual could have caused by having access to that building and room? For a Federal agency that received a notice of violation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission just 1 year ago for failing to--and I quote--``keep records showing the receipt, inventory, acquisition, transfer, and disposal of all special nuclear materials in its possession,'' this is extremely concerning. In the National Regulatory Commission's investigation, they discovered ``radioactive material and sources that were not included'' in the NIST inventory. While this raises additional accountability issues and concerns, it also emphasizes the need for adequate and effective security at NIST campuses. Having held numerous managerial and executive positions in the private and public sector, I know how important accountability is to the success and future of an organization. It is inexcusable that an important government agency like NIST is lagging behind in accountability, especially when it comes to the security and protection of its campuses and its employees. This legislation is an important example of how congressional oversight works. Being able to ``check on and check the Executive'' allows Congress to step in when an agency is lacking in efficiency and effectiveness to ensure adequate measures are taken and taxpayer dollars are protected. This bill directs the Department of Commerce Office of Security to get involved in the law enforcement and security programs at NIST. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to produce an analysis on the performance and efficiency of NIST security in its current state, make recommendations on how to improve security on NIST campuses, and look into the possibility of privatizing the NIST police force. This legislation takes an important step to protect the safety and security of those who work at, visit, and live in the vicinity of NIST campuses. We must take action to ensure accountability and effective security in one of our Nation's oldest physical science laboratories. I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, terrorism is no longer just a national issue as we deemed it after 9/11. The attacks of terrorism are affecting our local communities, and we must address those that are perpetrating these attacks, not just simply go after the tools that they choose to use. The Boston bombers chose to use a pressure cooker, a bomb. There have been attacks using knives, there have been attacks using hatchets, there have been attacks using cars. It is the perpetrator of these acts of violence that we must address. Earlier this year, the House passed a bill called the ALERT Act, a bill that I authored that is amplifying local efforts to root out terrorism, which, by the way, removes bureaucratic barriers and paves the way for the Federal Government to enhance State and local law enforcement's involvement in fighting the war on terrorism. By providing the tools and training needed to combat terrorism on multiple levels, the act provides for more efficient cooperation and coordination with State and local officials. Today, everyone has to play a part in protecting against terrorism, from the neighbor next door to the local law enforcement officer. While no legislation in itself will end the threat of terrorism against our Nation, we can better utilize the valuable resources found right within our communities. In hopes of getting the ALERT Act and two other key pieces of Homeland Security legislation to the President's desk, we have packaged them into one comprehensive bill entitled the ``Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act.'' I appreciate Chairman McCaul's leadership and sponsorship in this important piece of legislation to help stop future acts. As we are experiencing an increase in acts of terrorism by radical Islamic terrorists that directly threaten our own communities, we must reevaluate how we combat these terrorist threats. This joint piece of legislation will better secure America by helping local law enforcement combat terrorism, keeping terrorists from entering our borders, stopping radicalization, and evaluating better security methods as we move forward. I also want to thank my colleagues, Mr. Katko and Mr. Fleischmann, for their hard work on advancing their bills. I appreciate their collateral effort as we strive to protect Americans from violent terrorist attacks. Because threats against America are rapidly increasing, we cannot afford to be stagnant. We must act, and we must act now.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. David Scott, for coordinating this tribute to Jocelyn Dorsey. I am honored to recognize Jocelyn Dorsey, who is being inducted into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, for her steadfast commitment to journalism excellence. Jocelyn has served the Atlanta, Georgia, region for over 40 years in her reporting for WSB-TV. During her career, she has been recognized for her work ethic and devotion to the field of journalism. Jocelyn's commitment to excellence quickly advanced her career, and she has served as the director of editorial and public affairs at Channel 2 since 1983. She has received numerous awards for her work with WSB-TV, including seven Southeast Regional Emmys for Editorial Excellence from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Jocelyn was also the first woman and the first African American to receive the Georgia Association of Broadcasters' Citizen of the Year Award, which is a lifetime achievement award. Her work speaks for itself, but she is more than a reporter, anchor, and director. Jocelyn is the mother of two sons and is a grandmother. She is also an active volunteer in her community, and she rode her Harley-Davidson around the country, raising thousands of dollars for the Special Olympics of Georgia. As the Atlanta Magazine puts it, Jocelyn is a ``woman making a mark.'' She is truly an inspiration to the journalism community. Congratulations, Jocelyn Dorsey, on your well-deserved induction into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a pillar of our community, Pastor Billy Edmondson. This year marks Pastor Edmondson's twenty-fifth anniversary of service as Senior Pastor of Sutallee Baptist Church in White, Georgia. During his days studying at Reinhart University and the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, he prepared himself to serve. And, through his honorable service in the United States Marine Corps, on the Boards of the Georgia Baptist Mission and the Academy at Double H Ranch, as well as his tenure at Sutallee Baptist, his dedication to service in our community has been unwavering. Pastor Edmondson has made it his life's work to serve Christ and preach His word both inside and outside of the church. On behalf of the people of Georgia's 11th Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I would like to recognize and congratulate Pastor Edmondson on his many years of service.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding his time. Mr. Speaker, I chair the Oversight Subcommittee on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and my subcommittee has held numerous hearings on the ever-evolving threat of cyber intrusions. I also owned and operated an information technology company for more than 20 years, so I know firsthand the importance of safeguarding sensitive information and private customer data. Regrettably, as we have seen through many unfortunate examples, the American people have good reason to question whether their private information is being properly secured. That is why I am pleased to support H.R. 5312, the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of 2016. This legislation ensures that Federal science agencies focus on networking and information technology priorities that are in the national interest, and also provides the coordinated research and development efforts necessary to improve cyber and data security nationwide. The bill also encourages agencies to increase understanding of ways to detect, prevent, and recover from actions that threaten computer systems. This legislation will help stimulate innovation in the technology sector and will enable our Nation to better understand and secure its systems for the future. I thank my Science, Space, and Technology Committee colleague (Mr. LaHood) for his work on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5049) to provide for improved management and oversight of major multi-user research facilities funded by the National Science Foundation, to ensure transparency and accountability of construction and management costs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5049, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to sponsor H.R. 5049, the NSF Major Research Facility Reform Act of 2016, to improve the management and oversight of major multi-user research facilities that are funded by the National Science Foundation and to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent with transparency and accountability. The NSF funds a variety of large research projects through cooperative agreements, including multi-user research facilities, tools for research and education, and instrumentation networks. Current construction projects underway include the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, the Daniel Inouye Solar Telescope, and the National Ecological Observatory Network, otherwise known as NEON. These 5- to 10-year construction projects range from $350 million to $500 million in total project cost. The proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars is paramount when executing projects of this magnitude. The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a number of hearings over the last year and a half on these large research projects, including several on the NEON Project, after learning about the mismanagement of appropriated funds. Specifically, the hearings discussed the findings of two financial audits. One of those audits discovered that NEON was allowed to use Federal taxpayer dollars for explicitly unallowable costs, including liquor, lobbying, and a lavish holiday party. Both audits of the NEON Project were initiated by the NSF inspector general due to concerns about the lack of review of costs by the NSF. In addition, the IG had concerns about the NSF's accounting financial controls of major research facilities prior to entering into cooperative agreements. The IG's work, combined with the oversight of this committee's, resulted in the National Academy of Public Administration's, also known as NAPA, conducting a commissioned review of the NSF's management of cooperative agreements. The bill I bring to the floor today is a product of many recommendations that were made by the NSF IG, the auditors, NAPA, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. First, the bill enhances the role of the NSF Large Facilities Office in project management, giving it statutory permanence and ensuring that expert management staff at the NSF work with scientific program staff throughout all phases of project development and construction. It also requires a senior agency official to have responsibility for the oversight of the office. Second, the bill requires the NSF to commission an external cost proposal analysis for all major multi-user research facilities with a total project cost of over $100 million. This will ensure that proposed construction budgets are reasonable while allowing the NSF and the awardee to address all cost issues before construction begins. This small investment at the beginning of the award will pay off in savings for the life of the construction project. Third, the bill requires an incurred cost audit at least every 2 years during construction, starting 1 year after the execution of the agreement. These regular audits will help ensure that a project is on track and will detect problems while something can still be done to remedy the problem, not after the project is well on its way to being over budget or is already complete. Fourth, the bill increases agency control over project contingency funds by requiring the NSF to retain the majority of the funds rather than the awardee. Reflecting the input of many stakeholders, the bill allows the NSF to disburse contingency funds incrementally to the awardee to allow for project continuity and stability. Contingency expenditures must be supported by verifiable cost data, and the awardee must record and report all contingency expenditures to the NSF. Next, the bill closes loopholes for the use of management fees, codifying regulations that the NSF has recently put into place to ensure taxpayer funds are never abused again. This prohibition includes alcohol, concert tickets, unnecessary travel, and lobbying. The bill also requires awardees to demonstrate a financial need to justify management fees which are included as part of the award. Finally, the bill has a provision that supports the education of the NSF grant awardees and their employees on the law that protects whistleblowers. It was thanks to a whistleblower auditor that many of the issues with the NEON Project were brought to light. As a former small business owner and as the former director of a nonprofit, I, wholeheartedly, understand the importance of accountability. The fact that the NSF is mishandling American taxpayer dollars, with little consequence, is inexcusable. What is even more inexcusable is that the NSF has received warnings about this kind of irresponsible spending over the past 4 years, and it has not taken adequate measures to resolve the matter. This bill will ensure that the NSF makes the systematic changes necessary to restore confidence in federally funded research projects and that taxpayers can trust us with their money in their knowing that it will be spent in the manner it was intended. I thank Chairman Smith for his support in moving this bill forward, and I ask my colleagues to join me in passing these commonsense reforms. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority leader.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

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

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

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, it's not every day that we get to recognize a true hometown hero. Last month, I was given the great honor of presenting the Congressional Badge of Bravery to a very deserving hero. Officer Tony Luong, of the DeKalb County Police Department, and a resident of the 11th Congressional District, puts on his uniform each day, knowing the dangers he may face. However, his commitment to serving his fellow man is greater than the risk. In December, 2014, during a home invasion with two heavily armed suspects, Officer Luong arrived on the scene, ready to do whatever it took to keep his community safe. The two suspects ignored police orders and began shooting at the law officers. The policemen took cover and returned fire. As Officer Luong attempted to detain one of the suspects, he sustained a near fatal bullet wound to the leg, just prior to the officers apprehending the suspect and taking him into custody. While Officer Luong was undergoing life-saving measures in the hospital, the second suspect was captured after a four-hour manhunt with the assistance of surrounding police jurisdictions. During this incident, Officer Luong showed uncommon courage in the face of imminent danger, protecting DeKalb County residents against a violent home invasion. Even though Officer Luong was shot in the line of duty, his commitment to protecting innocent lives is unwavering. Today, Officer Luong continues to serve on the DeKalb County Police force, and I'm proud to know such a brave officer, who even in the midst of danger, does not cower in fear, but courageously takes action to serve and protect his fellow citizens.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize Mr. Jacob Gann, a senior at Cherokee High School, in Georgia's 11th District, for his efforts to understand the legislative process, and for his interest in issues that affect the American people. He crafted his very own bill--to clarify and improve our immigration process. Young people who are devoted to understanding the issues are our nation's future leaders. I would like to recognize Jacob for his hard work and perseverance over the last year to learn about our government's bill-making process. Immigration reform is one of the battles of our time, and Jacob's diligence to understand the issue and the process will serve him well wherever he goes. Congratulations, Jacob.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the subject of justice. As we look around the Capitol, there are effigies and paintings. Even in this Chamber, there are paintings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, the visionaries of this Nation who envisioned a Nation and a government that was committed to liberty, tempered by law and justice. Their idea of justice was an equal application of the law to everyone, that there weren't two sets of laws--one law for the citizen and a different law for the bureaucrat or the elected official--but all laws were equally applied to every person. I want to tell you the story of two Johns and how the law doesn't apply equally. The first John is a Mr. John Yates who, in 2007, was fishing for grouper in the Gulf of Mexico when a State conservation officer, who had Federal authority, approached his boat and asked to inspect his catch. Upon the inspection, he found that there were 72 grouper that were suspected to be under the minimum size. He ordered Mr. Yates to return to shore. Now, Mr. Yates understood that this was not a serious crime, it was actually a civil action, and he could face a fine or he could lose his fishing license, a license issued by the government that he made his living with. But Mr. Yates made a mistake. He made a bad decision, because he ordered those suspect fish to be thrown back into the water. It was a mistake. But after being punished for what he did wrong, catching small fish, 4 years later, in 2011, Mr. Yates was convicted of a Federal offense of destroying evidence under the Sarbanes-Oxley statutes. He went to jail. He also spent 3 years on a supervised release program for a Federal offense of destroying or tampering with evidence. When the government wants to seek justice upon a citizen, there are over 4,500 criminal statutes and an endless number of regulations that can be enforced criminally that they can use to find a way to punish you for a deed, regardless of how minor or major it was. But that doesn't always apply to the government itself. The same year that John Yates was sent to jail for destroying small fish, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued a subpoena to another John, who was then, and is still, the Commissioner of the IRS, John Koskinen. They demanded that he provide, under subpoena by the force of law, all of the documents relating to Lois Lerner and the targeting of conservative groups by the IRS. However, instead of responding to that subpoena, the IRS destroyed over 24,000 of those documents. But yet, today, Mr. Koskinen is still the Commissioner of the IRS. There are two types of enforcement of laws in this Nation--one for the citizen and one for the government official. You see, the Sarbanes- Oxley catchall that has been used to successfully prosecute for destruction of cars and weapons, even bodies, as well as documents and evidence, excludes government agencies. The American people deserve justice. But we do have one tool, and that is the tool of this Congress to impeach those who violate the trust of the American citizens. Mr. Speaker, I have cosponsored, with the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House Resolution 494, which would bring the Commissioner of the IRS before this body on charges of impeachment for violating the trust of the American people. Mr. Speaker, I ask that that resolution be brought forward and be brought forward in this House for a vote so that justice will be served and we can once again restore the confidence of the American people that there is one definition of justice in this Nation, and that is equal application of the law for everyone.

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 include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Just 3 short years ago, a group of domestic terrorists were plotting attacks in my hometown in northwest Georgia. Federal law enforcement was informed that these terrorists were trying to obtain pipe bombs and other improvised explosive devices. Once detonated, these weapons could have destroyed property, disabled utilities, and potentially taken innocent human life. Because of the imminent threat, a Federal drug task force had to move quickly to intercept the suspects before they could carry out their attack. With such a short time to react to such a volatile situation, logic would suggest that Federal law enforcement would notify and enlist the assistance of the local sheriff's office. Considering the raid was to take place in the parking lot of a busy shopping center adjacent to a hospital, having local law enforcement assistance was clearly justified. However, there was one problem. The sheriff didn't have the proper security clearance; so, he was not authorized to be briefed on the details of the case. To stop these would-be terrorists, the FBI had to move quickly and could not wait for a waiver to brief the sheriff or to get approval to enlist his assistance. This bureaucratic hurdle put the FBI, our local law enforcement, and the community at greater risk. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this scenario plays out way too often across the Nation. While our FBI and Homeland Security agents are doing an exemplary job of countering terrorist activities, their resources are being stretched very thin. With the threat of terrorism on the rise, we must find a way to provide these agents with additional resources. This is why I have introduced H.R. 4401, the ALERT Act. The Amplifying Local Efforts to Root Out Terror Act removes bureaucratic barriers and paves the way for the Federal Government to enhance State and local law enforcement involvement in fighting the war on terrorism. By providing the tools and training needed to combat terrorism on multiple levels, this act will provide more efficient cooperation and coordination with State and local officials. Local law enforcement is crucial to our security, and they are too often overlooked as a valuable asset in fighting against terrorism. Through this legislation, the Department of Homeland Security will be authorized to train State and local law enforcement in the best methods used in combating evolving terrorist threats. Proper security clearances are also vital for our local law enforcement officials so they may assist with countering terror activity as well as receiving notification of pending threats in their local jurisdictions. This bill requires the Department to keep Congress apprised of the number of security clearances issued to State and local law enforcement so we can assess whether further congressional action is needed. Because fighting terrorism is not a singular effort of the Federal Government, the ALERT Act provides increased community awareness of ongoing threats. Radicalization is also a clear and present danger to Americans. The number of cases of homegrown terrorism is growing nationwide. Since September 11, 2001, there have been 139 homegrown jihadist plots. Community involvement in countering violent extremism has proven to be effective, as more than 75 percent of U.S. foreign fighter arrests have involved tips from local sources, such as community members, relatives, or friends. This bill will provide even more resources to root out terrorists before they can act. As we are moving into a new era of terrorism that directly threatens our own communities, we must reevaluate how we meet the current threat. Today everyone has a part to play in protecting against terrorism: the neighbor next door and the local police officer. While this legislation will not in itself end the threat of terrorism against our Nation, it will allow for the better use of valuable resources already within our communities. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert).

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4401) to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide countering violent extremism training to Department of Homeland Security representatives at State and local fusion centers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me give a heartfelt thanks to my colleagues across the aisle, especially to my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating), who mentioned that we have spent a good amount of time together in traveling to the Middle East and to Europe, looking at terrorism. There was a time in our Nation's history when our focus on terrorism was isolated to areas overseas, but no longer. Terrorism is in our neighborhoods and it is in our communities. As you heard here today, from Massachusetts to Georgia to Washington State, there are no geographical boundaries on terrorism even within the United States. While this bill will not end terrorism, it will give critical tools to those who know their communities best. The local law enforcement officer who is on the beat every day knows his community better than anyone. When something isn't just right, he is the first one to notice it. It is critical that we provide them with the training, the security clearances, and the tools that they need to become a force multiplier for our Federal agents who are operating on very limited resources today. In fact, they are stretched very thin. Again, I thank all of those who are in support of this legislation. Of all I have worked on, I believe that this is one of the most important--that being the securing of our Nation so our children will have a nation that is free, safe, and full of opportunity. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4401. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas, Mr. Weber, for his leadership on this important issue and for allowing me a few moments to speak on it. H.R. 4084 is a critical piece of legislation that will improve our Nation's nuclear energy research and foster the development of our next generation of nuclear reactors. Throughout our history, the United States has led the world in developing new nuclear technologies, and this bill provides the tools to help us to continue this leadership into the future. One of the many important provisions of this bill is that it directs the Department of Energy, through its National Laboratories, to develop new nuclear reactor concepts by partnering with the private sector. With a national population of 320 million, and growing, we must be aggressive in our pursuit of new nuclear breakthroughs in order to power our Nation's future. As a Member of Congress from Georgia, I understand the challenges of providing power to a rapidly growing population. Georgia's population is expected to increase by almost 2 million over the next 10 years, and without clean, affordable, reliable nuclear power, the task of bringing electricity to these new residents would be daunting. The United States has not added any nuclear power generation for over 30 years. However, today, new power units are being built at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. These nuclear power generators will add the capacity to power 1 million homes and businesses once they are completed. After visiting Plant Vogtle last year, I am confident that these new generators will reassure the country that nuclear power is safe, secure, and reliable, and will encourage the pursuit of future nuclear technology breakthroughs. This bill is vital to the future of our Nation because it enables the private sector to utilize the research tools and resources at the DOE National Labs so scientists and engineers in the private sector can assist in the development of new nuclear technologies. Nuclear power generation that is clean, sustainable, and safe, is what will power America's homes and businesses for years to come. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 3371, a bill that will add valuable historical property to the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. This park, which is located in Georgia's 11th Congressional District, is a site of significant battles that took place during America's bloodiest conflict, the Civil War. Our Nation has long recognized the importance of preserving historical sites, especially those battlefields where Americans fought and died for freedom. Sites such as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park allow us to look back in time and get a glimpse of events that help shaped our Nation. It is extremely important that we understand our history; otherwise, we will be destined to repeat the mistakes of the past. A recent study of American history education revealed that, while 98 percent of college students could identify that Snoop Doggy Dogg was a rapper, only 23 percent of college seniors could identify that James Madison was the father of the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, it is now more important than ever that the generations following us have access to these historic sites and to the educational opportunities they provide, or we risk losing touch with our history. It is extremely important to restore the comprehensive study of American history in our schools. However, it is equally important to preserve the places at which significant events in our history took place. This bill that I have sponsored will simply allow Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to acquire two pieces of property that will add to the historic and educational value of this battlefield. One of the properties this bill will preserve is a home that was built in 1853 by Mr. Josiah Wallis. Mr. Wallis built this home for his family, but it was eventually used as a hospital by the Confederate Army during the Civil War. In 1864, the Wallis House fell into the hands of General William Sherman of the Union Army during his campaign to take Atlanta. The house served as Sherman's headquarters during the Battle of Kolb's Farm, which was a resounding victory for the Union Army; but the victory was not without cost. When the smoke cleared, over 350 Union soldiers and over 1,000 Confederate soldiers lay dead. Five days later, Union General Oliver Howard used the Wallis House as his headquarters and communications center during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, one of the bloodiest 1-day battles of the entire war. This was also the last major battle before Atlanta fell to Union forces. While the assault by General Sherman was a tactical failure in its costing the lives of 3,000 of his men, the battle also inflicted heavy losses on the Confederates. After losing another 1,000 men, the Confederate Army could not stop General Sherman on his march to Atlanta. Adjacent to the Wallis House are 8 acres of land, known as Harriston Hill. This property offers a sweeping view of the valley leading to the Confederate line on top of Kennesaw Mountain, and it was used by the Union as a signaling position during the battle. This location is essential for park visitors to understand the strategic positions taken by the Union and Confederate Armies during the battle. In addition to being critical sites in Civil War history, the Wallis House and Harriston Hill are two of the few original locations remaining from the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain that are associated with the Union Army. Most of the park's current attractions correspond with Confederate history, so these additions will prove to be major historical acquisitions that will enhance the value of the park and provide insight into the Union's side of the story. In 2002, the Cobb County Government purchased the Wallis House and Harriston Hill in order to prevent the house from being demolished. Since then, the county has been seeking to transfer the property to the park. My bill simply modifies the boundary of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to include the house and the hill, and it authorizes the park to acquire the property by donation. Along with the Cobb County Government, this bill is supported by the National Park Service, by Kennesaw Mountain Park, and by several park volunteer organizations and historical societies in my district. This legislation is an essential step toward preserving our Nation's heritage, and it is a valuable part of Civil War history. The Wallis House and Harriston Hill will provide tremendous educational and historical value to Kennesaw Mountain Park; and it is my hope that the park will quickly acquire this property and will restore it to its original condition for visitors to enjoy for generations to come. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. LOUDERMILK

Mr. LOUDERMILK. I thank the gentleman from Texas, the chairman, for yielding this time and for his leadership on this issue. Mr. Chairman, last month the Congressional Budget Office released an updated deficit projection for fiscal year 2016. The CBO now expects that our deficit will be $544 billion this year, which is an increase from the original projection of $414 billion. Now, more than ever, Congress needs to work diligently to reduce spending and balance the Federal budget. However, it is equally important for us to make sure that every taxpayer dollar that is spent is used responsibly. That is why I am an original cosponsor of the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act. It will help ensure that the National Science Foundation, one of our Nation's most critical research agencies, is using its funding in the most beneficial way possible. This bill requires the NSF to explain how each of its grants further America's best interests. This could be done through advancing STEM education, national defense, economic competitiveness, public health, or other key priorities. By requiring the NSF to justify its research, this bill will help crack down on frivolous government programs. And, yes, Mr. Chairman, there are frivolous government programs. For example, the NSF is currently spending $374,000 of taxpayer money on a study of the ups and downs of senior citizens' dating experiences. While we all want, I am sure, Americans to enjoy their romantic lives throughout the year, we cannot afford this type of wasteful taxpayer spending when we have a $19 trillion debt. This commonsense legislation will ensure that NSF research is well directed and that it will help prevent valuable taxpayer dollars from being wasted. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.