Kenny Marchant

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Councilmember Anna Holzer for her 43 years of dedicated service to the City of Hurst, Texas. Anna and her family first arrived in Hurst in 1968 and, since then, for over forty years, she has stood as a pillar of the community, serving Hurst and the surrounding areas with honor and distinction. Anna possesses a dedication to community that is unrivaled by many in public service. She has devoted her life to improving not only the safety and security of our communities, but to improving our public education system as well. Driven by her passion for education, Anna served as the Director of Library Services at the Northwest Campus of Tarrant County College where she focused her efforts on assisting students achieve their educational goals. Anna served in this capacity for 30 years before retiring from Tarrant County College in 2008. Since first being elected to the city council in May, 1992, Anna has served on the Hurst Crime District Control Board, Hurst Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association, Hurst Planning and Zoning Commission, Hurst Library Board, is a city council liaison to the HEB Teen Court Advisory Board, and is Chair of the United Way--Northeast Steering Committee. Additionally, in 2012, Anna was selected by her peers on the city council to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore. Anna's exemplary commitment to her community will leave a lasting mark upon the City of Hurst for many years to come. Her tenure with the Hurst City Council will be forever remembered by the countless lives her service has touched. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the contributions Anna has made to the City of Hurst. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in thanking Anna Holzer for her many years of service.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Valley Hope at Grapevine on their fifteenth anniversary of service in the Dallas- Fort Worth Metroplex. Nearly fifty years ago in Norton, Kansas, Valley Hope began providing affordable treatment services to those within their community suffering from addiction and needing assistance. Since first opening in 1967, Valley Hope has grown to offer their services in seven states and provides support to thousands of individuals in need. Over the last fifteen years, Valley Hope has provided the residents of Grapevine and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with addiction treatment and rehabilitative services, impacting the lives of countless Texans and their families struggling with addiction. By providing comprehensive treatment services for substance use disorders, Valley Hope is able to increase the quality of life of their patients and allow them the opportunity to live their lives free from the anchors of addiction. The nation's substance abuse epidemic continues to spread throughout our cities, our communities, and our schools. I commend Valley Hope for their efforts to address this crisis and tackle an issue of such great importance head on. Rehabilitation services such as those offered by Valley Hope provide a tremendous benefit to the community. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the tireless efforts Valley Hope has made towards ending chemical dependency and substance use disorders. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Valley Hope at Grapevine on their fifteenth anniversary of service.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Kim Brown on her well-earned retirement from the Grapevine Police Department after serving over thirty years with the City of Grapevine, Texas. Kim began her service with the City of Grapevine as a library aid and assistant where she worked for over three years before beginning her long and distinguished career with the Grapevine Police Department. Kim started with the Department as an Administration Clerk in 1989 and was soon promoted to Administration Division Secretary before eventually moving into the Criminal Investigations Division as an Investigative Assistant. Since the beginning of her tenure in Grapevine, Kim has provided outstanding service to her community, which is apparent in the numerous commendations she has received while performing her duties. Most recently, Kim was awarded a Certificate of Merit in November, 2014, for her excellent performance. Kim's exemplary work with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Grapevine Police Department has had a tremendous effect on the safety and security of Grapevine and the surrounding communities. Her legacy will leave a lasting mark on the City of Grapevine and the Grapevine Police Department for many years to come. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the contributions Kim has made to the City of Grapevine. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Kim Brown on her many years of service.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Captain William Kenneth Earman on his outstanding and exemplary military service. In 1942, Mr. Earman joined the Army Air Force Cadet Program in the immediate aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Like many Americans of the Greatest Generation, Mr. Earman put his life on hold to defend our country against the evils that threatened our convictions, ideals, and existence. Upon graduating from bombardier school in Big Spring, Texas, as a Second Lieutenant, Mr. Earman was assigned to the Seventh Air Force, which introduced him to the Pacific Theatre. Mr. Earman flew over forty missions in the Central Pacific in a B-24 J bomber named ``The Sunsetter.'' He and his crew received numerous commendations and awards for their valor, including four Air Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. After his time in combat had concluded, Mr. Earman was promoted to First Lieutenant and returned to Big Spring to instruct incoming Army Air Force cadets, a reflection of his exemplary performance and expertise as a bombardier and navigator. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Earman was promoted and served as Flight Commander of the Ready Reserve Airmen in Rockdale, Texas, where he would eventually be promoted to Captain. In June of 1961, Captain Earman received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Air Force after nearly twenty years of meritorious service. This would mark the end of Captain Earman's long and distinguished military career. On May 6th and 7th, Captain Earman will be participating with other World War II veterans in the twenty-ninth Dallas/Fort Worth Honor Flight to our nation's capital, accompanied by his son, William Kenneth Earman, Jr. Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to recognize the service Captain Earman has given to this nation. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to rise with me today in appreciation of Captain Earman's remarkable service and sacrifice.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, this week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the United States v. Texas case. This is the Texas-led challenge to the President's executive orders on immigration, a challenge that I strongly support. By granting unilateral amnesty to 5 million illegal immigrants, the President has blatantly disregarded his duty to enforce our laws. Instead, he is trying to rewrite them altogether. It doesn't work this way. Article I of the Constitution is clear. All legislative powers shall be vested in Congress. Erosion of this principle is a threat to the rule of law. That is why this challenge by Texas and other States is so important. This fight is about asserting the will of Americans and defending the authority of Congress. I am pleased that the House has voted to put its full support behind Texas and our Speaker. Lower courts have already ruled to halt the President's illegal amnesty. On behalf of my constituents, I strongly urge the Supreme Court to do the same.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate E.L. Kent Elementary School in Carrollton, Texas, for earning the distinction of being named one of the nation's most successful schools through the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. In 1982, the Department of Education established the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program to recognize schools for their high or significantly improved achievement. The program's goal is to identify the methods of thriving American schools to inspire others to imitate their successful practices. In September of 2015, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan named E.L. Kent Elementary School as a 2015 Blue Ribbon School. Schools selected for national honors reflect high standards and accountability to their students and community. E.L. Kent Elementary School remains committed to enhancing the quality of learning for its students. The tireless work of the school's educators and families cannot go unnoticed, along with the hard work of the students who helped earn this award. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating E.L. Kent Elementary School on its accomplishment as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Andrew Jones of Irving, Texas, on being named to the 2016 McDonald's All American basketball roster. This is a tremendous honor from the basketball community as it pits the best high school players in the country against one another in an exhibition game. Mr. Jones also participated in the three-point competition and Legends and Stars Shootout as the players display their shooting ability and point guard play. The requirements to become a McDonald's All American are extensive as you must consistently be a consensus Top 20 player in the national rankings, and earn enough votes from the selection committee. Andrew was one of 24 high school senior basketball players selected to join this elite group of young men as the best in the country from over 100,000 players nationwide. Andrew has been consistently rated as one of the best guards in the 2016 class with his ability to create plays and soft touch around the rim. Mr. Jones' following has only grown as his tremendous improvement has been highlighted over the past year in his spring and summer performances in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). He brings great pride to the basketball community of Texas. Andrew has a natural gift for the game of basketball as his court vision and slashing capabilities creates scoring opportunities and proves to be a nightmare for opposing teams. Andrew will only improve at the collegiate level as his basketball gift continues to attract admirers and people who look up to him including young fans that need positive role models in their lives. While Andrew continues to receive praise from scouts and people close to him, he has kept his roots in mind as he has committed to playing college basketball at home for the University of Texas (UT). At UT he will continue to display his exemplary skills and pride for the great state of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in congratulating Andrew Jones on his hard work and athletic accomplishments.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the honoring of John Billingsley, a founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tri Global Energy, in the Dallas Business Journal's ``2015 Who's Who in Energy.'' Mr. Billingsley has worked in a variety of industries including commercial real estate, banking, and manufacturing. However with Tri Global Energy, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, his focus is on wind power in Texas. Mr. Billingsley was born south of Lubbock, Texas on a cotton farm and attended college at Texas Tech University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Accounting. Among other admirable ventures, he co-founded a CPA firm, Johnson Kubica & Co. that later merged into Arthur Young, and served as Chairman of the Board and President of the Western State Bank of Midland. Billingsley founded Tri Global Energy in January of 2009 when a few wind developers approached him asking to lease his land. Tri Global Energy now leases land in Texas to a renewable energy developers and has become a solar energy developer and provider as well. The company's ``Wind Force Plan'' allows for ownership and partnership for landowners, stakeholders, and local communities who are involved in their wind projects--creating a strong community within the company. Tri Global Energy is now the top developer of wind energy projects in Texas, and reflects the growing diversity of energy production in the state of Texas. Billingsley has wind generation projects under development in Texas and New Mexico that could potentially produce some 6,600 megawatts of power when they become fully operational. He has proven himself to be a valuable member of the North Texas business community and leading energy entrepreneur in the state of Texas, and I am honored to recognize him as a constituent of my district. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the career of John Billingsley. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating this milestone in his remarkable life.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and memory of Officer David Hofer of the Euless, Texas Police Department. Officer Hofer was tragically killed while serving in the line of duty on March 1, 2016. David's career as an officer began in 2009 after joining the New York Police Department. A native of Brooklyn, New York and a 2008 graduate of New York University, David fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer soon after completing his degree. After dutifully serving the people of New York for five years, David relocated to North Texas where he accepted a position with the Euless Police Department. David was an upstanding citizen of the community, and an outstanding police officer. He is remembered as a loving son, brother, fiance, and hero. David's service and dedication to his neighbors, his community, and the City of Euless will never be forgotten. As we memorialize David's life within the halls of Congress, may we never forget his commitment and sacrifice for the safety and wellbeing of our community. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand here today to recognize a true hero. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of Officer David Hofer.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for the immediate passage of S. 1826, a bill to rename the post office located at 99 West 2nd Street in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, as the Lieutenant Colonel James ``Maggie'' Megellas Post Office. It is my great honor to recognize Lieutenant Colonel James Megellas (Ret), and to call Maggie a constituent of the 24th District of Texas. In 1942, Maggie accepted an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in the infantry and shortly thereafter faced combat in Italy. Notably, in January 1945, Maggie and his platoon advanced toward Herresbach, Belgium, and came upon 200 German troops who were advancing out of town. In an act of selflessness and bravery, Lt. Col. Megellas sprinted toward a German tank as it took aim at his fellow soldiers. He disabled the tank with a grenade, then dropped another into the tank eliminating the threat his men faced from the combat vehicle. Lt. Col Megellas has been honored with many awards, including the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Cross. Lt. Col Megellas is beyond deserved of having this post office location named in his honor. I continue to commend Maggie on serving his country with honor and bravery, as a shining example of courage and as a member of the greatest generation America has known. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing the sacrifice and bravery of Lt. Col Megellas and urge for the swift passage of S. 1826.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Michael Sanborn of Carrollton, Texas, on being named Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce's ``Citizen of the Year.'' Michael's leadership and dedication to the Metrocrest community in the Dallas/Fort Worth area has made a lasting impression that North Texas will not soon forget. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Michael for his many years of selfless service to our community. Michael has earned recognition as one of the most prominent and influential leaders in North Texas' medical community. Michael attended the University of Kansas, where he received his undergraduate and Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration. Beginning as a pharmacist, Michael was quickly promoted to System Director of Pharmacy of NCH Healthcare System and eventually Corporate Vice President of Cardiovascular Services for the entire Baylor Healthcare System. In his current position as President of Baylor Scott & White at Carrollton, Michael oversees the 235 bed acute care facility with more than 700 employees and 500 medical staff members. In addition, he is responsible for managing services at several specialty care clinics and diagnostic centers throughout Carrollton and surrounding cities. The ``Citizen of the Year'' award is presented annually by the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce to an individual who has made a significant impact in the community. Michael has shown honesty, integrity, and leadership while serving others, which has left a wide reaching and lasting effect on many in North Texas. At Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Michael has made local healthcare his top priority. Additionally, Michael is actively engaged and regularly works with local nonprofits and service organizations. Michael currently serves on the boards of Metrocrest Services and the Children's Advocacy Center of Denton County, and is the former Chairman of the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Michael Sanborn for receiving the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce's ``Citizen of the Year'' award. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing his contributions to the Metrocrest community.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 2406, the SHARE Act. This legislation would protect 2nd Amendment rights and prevent unnecessary federal regulations from limiting access to outdoor sporting activities. Activities like hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting contribute billions of dollars to our economy. But, it's impossible to put a dollar value on what they mean to millions of American families. For many Texans--myself included--hunting and fishing are more than simple hobbies. They are family traditions that get passed down through generations. These traditions bring us together and teach invaluable lessons about gun safety and environmental responsibility. Passing the SHARE Act will protect 2nd Amendment rights and help ensure that our sporting traditions can continue for generations to come. I call on all my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. MARCHANT

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I think a careful review of the bill will reflect that this bill's effective date will be 2017. While I cannot say with any certainty who the President will be or which party it will be, I would remind the House that this bill puts the responsibility on the administration, regardless of which party holds the White House, and it is an ongoing responsibility that will further the discussion and collaborative nature of our solutions to this debt. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Brat).

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I might consume. I would like to thank the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for his consideration and his speaking on the bill today and commend my colleague from New Jersey. We had a very lively discussion about this bill in the Rules Committee. Over the years, my colleague and I have been able to disagree very agreeably, and I trust that today will continue in that spirit. Mr. Chairman, I introduced the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act because Congress and the administration need to focus on finding debt reduction solutions. There is rarely a time that I appear in my district at a townhall meeting or even a gathering of just a few people where the subject of the debt of the United States of America is not the focal point of the discussion. I never go through a public meeting where someone doesn't raise their hand and say: What is Congress doing about the national debt? When we began to contemplate this bill a couple years ago, we began to think about how we could put into law a process where Congress would not solve the debt problem, but we would begin a process where the committees of jurisdiction would have a full report from the Treasury and the Secretary of the Treasury about where we were with the debt and the plans of the administration and what they would do to reduce that debt. When this bill was passed out of the Committee on Ways and Means in September, the national debt was $18.1 trillion. Now it is over $19 trillion. Debt held by the public is now roughly 74 percent of the economy's annual output. It is also a higher percentage than at any point in American history except for a very brief period around World War II. If current law remains unchanged, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that Federal debt held by the public will exceed 100 percent of GDP in 25 years. This is unsustainable. Everyone knows that the national debt is increasing, but the existing strategy for dealing with the debt limit only fuels conflict and fiscal irresponsibility. This creates disruption and uncertainty, and it erodes the confidence in the American leadership and economy. Five times in the last 5 years, the Treasury Department has had to employ extraordinary measures to avoid reaching the debt limit. These maneuvers are supposed to be a last resort. They were only employed six other times between the 1980s and 2011. Extraordinary measures have become the new normal, just like record levels of debt. The goal of H.R. 3442 is to establish a new debt limit process that is more transparent, accountable, and timely. This legislation would allow Congress and the American people to take an early and accurate look at the debt and the statutory debt limit before it is reached, not after the press release that it has been reached is released. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARCHANT. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Black), who serves on the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on the Budget.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam), the chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Tom Price), chairman of the Budget Committee.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Renacci), one of my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall).

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for the continued debate on the bill. This bill is very simple. The bill does not try to talk about the past. It doesn't try to address the Reagan administration or the Clinton administration or the Bush administration or the Obama administration. It tries to look forward and say that the Secretary of the Treasury, 21 to 60 days before he announces that we will reach the debt ceiling-- in this case, next year it will be March of 2017, so about this time next year--if this bill is made law, the Secretary of the Treasury will appear before the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee--they could meet jointly--and give a plan from the administration on what the administration intends to do about the national debt. It is important to know what the intentions of the current administration are about the national debt. The report will first provide a detailed accounting of the state of the national debt. It would include the composition and trajectory of the debt as well as the administration's plans to meet the obligations in the event that Congress agrees to raise the debt. Second, it would just say here is the administration's proposal to reduce the debt in the short term, the medium term, and the long term. The answer from the administration may very well be we have no intention whatsoever of addressing the debt in the short term, the medium term, or the long term. If that is what the Treasury Secretary wants to report to Congress, that could be his report. Third, if the administration requests subsequent debt-limit increases, the Secretary would be required to provide a progress report on prior debt reduction proposals. Finally, the bill would require the Treasury to put all these documents online so the American people can read the report for themselves. The Nation owes $19 trillion. The debt is growing every second. Addressing the debt is a shared responsibility, and we should use all available tools to manage this responsibility. This type of process is not new. In fact, today, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve is appearing before the Senate and earlier this week appeared before the House. Under the Humphrey-Hawkins Act, it required the Federal Reserve Chairman to appear before Congress to give a statement on monetary policy. I don't think it is too much to ask for one meeting a year for the Secretary of the Treasury to come to Congress and state his or her opinion and view about the national debt and the administration's plan on how it plans to reduce the debt. In fact, this bill would be a simple, first step to addressing that problem. I urge the House to pass this bill. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Chairman, this amendment to H.R. 3442 brings very valuable information and transparency to the debt-limit process. The amendment offered by Mr. Grijalva would strengthen the legislation by requiring the administration to report additional information on Federal taxes and revenue. However, I will note that revenues are above their historical average as a share of GDP, so the problem surrounding the unsustainable trajectory of our national debt isn't that Americans are not taxed enough; it is that Washington spends too much. With that said, I support the text of the gentleman's amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.