Kevin McCarthy

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I will first touch on Puerto Rico. I thank the gentleman for his work on that. Let me start by saying that any proposal that the House considers cannot be a bailout of Puerto Rico. I know the committee had a markup and they postponed the vote on it simply because Treasury was still negotiating. We had heard from those on your side of the aisle that they did not want to pursue or continue until Treasury was done negotiating. So we look forward to continue solving this problem in a bipartisan manner. I also understand the gentleman asking about the budget. I do believe the budget process is an important one, and we are continuing to work through it. It is out of the committee, and I look forward to getting it onto the floor.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I do think the gentleman's work is bipartisan on our challenge with Zika and as we continue to move forward with it. First, I am very happy to see that the administration did take our advice last week and began using the unused Ebola funding in our efforts to combat Zika. I know that was more than half a billion dollars. That money is going to go a long way to containing the disease. I had met with the chairman of Appropriations just today. They are continuing to look and monitor. We believe this money will take us throughout the rest of this fiscal year, but we will look and monitor where we need it and what we need to move forward. As the gentleman knows, every day we continue to learn more about Zika. We are committed on this side, and I know on your side as well, to make sure that we eradicate this problem from ever furthering in America.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. The bill solely deals with the IRS, but he can always offer an amendment.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jim Beck, a resident and community leader from Bakersfield, California, on his retirement as the General Manager of the Kern County Water Agency. Over the past three decades with the Kern County Water Agency, Jim has been instrumental in the fight to ensure our community receives the water we need. Jim received both his Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He joined the Kern County Water Agency nearly 32 years ago, moving from an agency chemist to Manager of Improvement District No. 4 to Assistant General Manager. In January 2005, Jim became the General Manager, undertaking an extremely important role for Kern County in California's extremely challenging world of water. The Kern County Water Agency (KCWA) is the second-largest participant in the California State Water Project (SWP), with an annual allotment of about 1 million acre-feet of water that is delivered to 19 public water agencies through KCWA and provided to serve domestic and irrigation water supplies to families, farms, and businesses located in Kern County. As General Manager, Jim has fought hard to ensure that Kern County gets the water we deserve--the water that we contract and pay for. The position of General Manager of KCWA is not for the faint of heart. Jim has led the agency through the most recent and currently ongoing catastrophic drought in California--the worst on record. Federal and state laws and regulations have exacerbated drought conditions resulting in significant water supply reductions from the SWP and to Kern County. Notwithstanding Jim's soft-spoken and quiet demeanor, when it comes to water advocacy, Jim has been a vociferous and unwavering ally in efforts to reform these laws and regulations to help ensure our communities get the water they need. At my request, Jim travelled to Washington, D.C., to testify before the House Committee on Natural Resources on the importance of legislation to reform the laws and regulations that are making it impossible for the Kern County Water Agency to get its full water allocation off the SWP. And, with Jim's and his staff's expertise, legislation was drafted that united all the differing factions in California's complex water system (north and south, east and west, Federal and state) that passed the House in multiple Congresses. Recognizing the challenges on the SWP, Jim did not stand idly by as surface water supplies became more unreliable. As General Manager, he oversaw significant capital projects at the Kern County Water Agency, including water purification and conveyance infrastructure, to ensure the water that Kern County does receive either from the SWP or Mother Nature is not lost. In addition, as General Manager, Jim oversees one of the largest groundwater banks in California, which has been invaluable as the drought continues. Jim has been at the forefront of the fight for Kern County farmers and families. Drive up and down the Central Valley and you will see signs that say ``Food Grows Where Water Flows.'' The water that Jim and KCWA have gotten for Kern County, part of California's ``Salad Bowl,'' ensures that our community, state, and nation have access to healthy fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts and that the southern Central Valley continues to thrive. Jim exemplifies how one can serve their community with quiet fortitude and dedication over the years. Jim and I have been in the trenches together on California water, and I have enjoyed working with him and his no-nonsense style as we fought to protect Kern County water. After many years in public service, I know that Jim looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Diane, and two sons, Chandler and Braden. Jim will be missed in the world of Kern County and California water, but I salute his lifetime of service and on behalf of our county and state, I wish him the best as he begins this new chapter of his life.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, innovation rises up from all parts of this country. One of the main purposes of the Innovation Initiative is to empower people to make new discoveries and guide our country into the future. When we do that, we ensure America remains a global leader and everyone in America and abroad benefits. We have two bills today to build innovation from the ground up, focusing on future women leaders in America. Because when you look back on history, you see women at the forefront. You look at Grace Hopper, who was one of the first programmers of our earliest computers. Stephanie Kwolek invented Kevlar. Shirley Ann Jackson laid the foundation for amazing advancements in communication, like fiber optic cables and portable fax machines. These are all women who fueled positive disruption with their ideas. This is the positive disruption America needs to prosper. So we should encourage a learning environment where young women continue to have the opportunities to explore the interests in STEM subjects. Today we will pass a bill by Congresswoman Barbara Comstock to enable retired NASA astronauts, engineers, and scientists to work with female STEM students who will lead the next generation. We are also voting to authorize the National Science Foundation to work with its entrepreneur programs to recruit more women who can be the top innovators in the lab and beyond. With these two items, the Innovation Initiative continues to empower the American people for the sake of the American people, removing obstacles to success while bringing innovation into government.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday, March 21, 2016, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I just want to respond to a few points you made. The money that we are talking about using for Zika, so nobody is delayed, is leftover money from the emergency supplemental voted in 2014. I know it is dealing with Ebola, but it is $3 billion sitting over there. They have some leftover money that they should make sure that they don't wait 1 day to start working. Now, you talk of the budget. We just passed a budget out of the Budget Committee that had a discretionary number of $1.07 trillion. Nowhere does it show that that is not the agreement. Now, you and I can debate a lot, but since Republicans took the majority, if you look at the numbers of--and I know in your last year in the majority, you didn't produce a budget. But we have saved America tremendous, more than $800 billion by taking the majority. Now, you and I both know that the real challenge for America is the mandatory spending, and we have to get to that. Now, when you talk about the EPA, the challenge that I find, and nobody should ever have water like Flint had. But I am very passionate about this issue. I am passionate that the children have drinking water. You know why? Because that same thing is happening in my State because of lack of water. Every year we have been in the majority, we have passed a bill here dealing with California water, but it goes nowhere in the Senate. I want the same for children across the country, because it is not just these two areas, there are lots of places we have to deal with this. But if I remind the gentleman, I think it was just a month ago, bipartisan on this floor, the vote was 416-2, telling the EPA not to hold information because, when it came to Flint, they knew of it and they waited months before they brought that information forward. So you and I work together, just as both sides of the aisle in here. They said the EPA needs to stop. If they have information on any community, don't hold that, release it. People need to be warned. People need to be advised. I was proud of the fact that both sides joined together, and I look forward to our being able to work on the other issues. Now, you and I may have a disagreement on the timing, because what I have found, these committees have been working. We want to get it right. And in no way, in no shape, have we not kept you, one, a part of it, or if we even have a meeting, advised of it. Congressman Sensenbrenner walked from a meeting with the Speaker, the committee chairs, and me directly over to your Leader Pelosi, the same time that we have been dealing with this within the committee, showing all what is being worked on, and I hope we can keep that same working together as we solve the problem. I wish the gentleman from Maryland good luck in his NCAA bracket. But as he knows, Cal State Bakersfield has never lost in the tournament. Now don't take it we have never been in it, but we have never lost yet.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank my friend for yielding. You always make me smile when you come with your quotes. At times they seem selective.

Mr. McCARTHY. Well, if the gentleman just wished me happy St. Patrick's Day, that would have done the same thing.

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30. On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business, and on Wednesday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. No votes are expected in the House on Thursday or Friday. Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, the House will also consider H.R. 2745, the SMARTER Act, sponsored by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Farenthold). The bill will ensure that no matter who reviews mergers and acquisitions, be it the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice, there will be uniform rules so that every transaction is reviewed fairly. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. The gentleman is correct that the Committee on the Budget successfully reported a budget resolution last night. I want to take a moment to thank Committee on the Budget Chairman Tom Price for his work, and the whole committee. There are more conversations among Members which will be required before moving the budget to the floor, and therefore it will not be scheduled for the upcoming abbreviated week, but I will let the gentleman know as soon as we do schedule it.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for his mood today, but I do want to correct the Record; and this is probably a good reason why we are not bringing the budget to a shortened week next week, because you have some misinformation. The budget that passed the committee abides by the exact number of what the agreement was. So I would find that you would probably be very supportive. Secondly, one thing that I would find is that it is our full intention to do all the appropriations bills on the floor. We believe in regular order. I remember a time here when I was in the minority that we didn't have any appropriations bills on the floor. I did not spend the time to get the old quotes about that, because I think America wants us to move forward. We want to allow time for conversations on the budget. Appropriations have been going through with their committee meetings. So we are in line to get them done on time and moving them forward.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. There are three questions in there, and I want to answer each and every one of them. As the gentleman did note, next week is Holy Week. We have Holy Thursday; we have Good Friday, and, of course, Easter. Now, the gentleman spoke with great passion, but there is one thing I think you missed in this. I hope you have the same passion for those at the EPA who knew of Flint and stayed silent, who did not warn those of the water that had been poisoned. The gentleman talks very boldly about wanting things done, but we should talk about what has happened. As we speak today, we just had a hearing on Flint, Michigan, where you had Gina McCarthy in; you had the Governor of Michigan in. Secondly, the gentleman knows that, when it comes to Zika, we had a meeting together, where we pulled in all those in government who are dealing with this issue. And they will tell you, there is no short answer for it. They will tell you the mosquito is not as easy as just spraying. And they will tell you, each and every day, they are learning something more. The White House did not send us a supplemental until just a few weeks ago. We have done nothing but move even faster. There is no agency-- from the NIH or the CDC--lacking in money to be acting today, and they will answer that question for you. They have money to go forward and do the work that they need to do and that we believe needs to happen. We can argue later about where that money comes from. But in no way have we stopped or slowed down. We have actually been in front of this. If I recall correctly, it was me who approached you on the floor and requested that we work together on this. It was me who called you and said: Let's make this bipartisan. So we brought all the committee members in with the Secretary and Directors. So in no way do I want the American public to think for one moment that we are not doing the work. Now, there is not one easy answer for it. You can look around the world to Australia; they have been battling this for quite some time. There are challenges, but we want to make sure we get it done. I want to work with you to make that happen, but I don't want to play political games with it. You know as well as I do, if you think we are here just on Good Friday and there is going to be a fundamental change, there won't be. But we are making change on the work we are doing. When it comes to Puerto Rico, we have been working on Puerto Rico. We have been working on Puerto Rico so much, the committee chairman just went there the last time we had a district work period to investigate. So did Congressman Sensenbrenner and Chairman Bishop. Yesterday the Speaker, myself, the committee chair from the Judiciary Committee, Congressmen Goodlatte, Sensenbrenner, and Bishop, all met. After that meeting, Congressman Sensenbrenner directly went to speak to Leader Pelosi on what we are doing because we are doing this in a bipartisan manner. I think you are going to see hearings being scheduled very shortly. We want to get this right. I understand your frustration because my frustration is across the Chamber over here with the Senate, because we have acted many times on the direction of where we are going. The last part I would bring up is that we are going to have disagreements on the budget. And maybe your argument is thinking the budgets are different. They are different. We have brought a budget to the floor every year we have been in the majority here, and they have balanced. Every time the President has sent a budget here and we have put this on the floor, there have only been two votes on the other side of the aisle for the President's budget. So, yes, we are going to have disagreements on the budget because we are going to fight over here to balance the budget and give us a brighter future. And, yes, maybe philosophically, you think we need to spend more money. But that is a disagreement that I think the American public expect you and I to have a disagreement on and fight for what we philosophically believe in. I just firmly disagree with your last question on all three--not from a basis of politics, but a basis between you and I knowing what we are doing. You and I both know personally what we have been working on. We haven't hidden the fact. We haven't made it partisan. We have been very open with it. We are going to solve the problem. I am not going to play political games with you and say, if you come on a Saturday, we are going to solve it. I am going to put us in a room on the exact day that we should be. I am going to have the experts in the room as well. We can disagree with where we want to go. But at the end of the day, we are going to solve the problem. And I welcome working with you as we solve them.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his work on this. Mr. Speaker, government policy is stuck in the past. Regulators from 20th century agencies are trying to manage and control a 21st century world--and it isn't working. The world is too complex and individual situations are too unique for a big, bulky government to try to apply standards to everyone. And every time government tries to micromanage the markets or the free exchange of ideas or the development of new technology, our country and our people fall behind. We lose out on new companies, new jobs, and new services. So, in the House, we want to free innovators from Silicon Valley to Boston by removing the obstacles that hold us back. We want breakthrough technologies and positive disruption that ensures American leadership around the world and brings government itself into the 21st century. It is our innovation initiative. Today, thanks to Greg Walden, we have the first bill from the innovation initiative on the floor, protecting the Internet for hundreds of thousands of users. The Internet is arguably the most dynamic contributor to a growing economy and higher quality of life in the world. It delivers information and education, supports new businesses and workers, and increases our ability to communicate and experience the world. But right now, small Internet service providers that bring Internet to homes and businesses in less populated parts of the United States worry that the Washington bureaucracy will swoop in and impose regulations on them, and this will create a compliance burden that could put them out of business. These small providers don't have enough resources to navigate the bureaucratic maze and bring broadband to communities at the same time. If these small Internet service providers go under, it could leave many people with limited Internet access or no access at all. The administration delayed these rules once, but that was only temporary. These small Internet providers need permanent relief so they can focus on doing the job of delivering Internet to the American people. So we are passing a bill today that lifts these regulations on small providers for good. We need to take every opportunity we can to create the space for innovation to thrive in this country. That is the purpose of our innovation initiative, and that is how we can make a more prosperous America that works for everyone.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, there are times in history we are ashamed of, times when people were faced with great evil and the world looked away. Cambodia's Communist regime massacred its people. Many in the world made excuses for them. Stalin purged Russians and starved the nation of Ukraine. He was praised by a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. The Jewish people of Europe were systematically murdered by Hitler, but the world was too afraid to see the truth. The scales were only lifted from their eyes when millions were already dead. At the time, people made excuses for their decision to look away. They said the politics were too dicey, or it wouldn't be diplomatic, or sometimes they couldn't believe that such evil exists. When we look back, those excuses don't make sense. They don't matter. What matters is that people were dying and the world didn't notice. Evil does exist, but ignoring it or refusing to call it by its name does not make it go away. ISIL is murdering Christians. They are targeting people who share my faith, the faith of many people in this House, people who believe in Jesus Christ. Because of that belief, they are being marked for execution. ISIL is murdering and enslaving religious and ethnic minorities everywhere they gain power, and we know it. We know what they are doing, and if we don't say it, we should be ashamed. ISIL is committing genocide. They are targeting non-Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, and more, and pushing them to extinction. But we also can't ignore what else is happening in Syria. The Assad regime and its allies are indiscriminately killing on a breathtaking scale. Torture, rape, chemical weapons, barrel bombs, forced starvation--the Syrian regime is targeting civilians and millions are suffering. The world cannot look away. The Obama administration cannot dance around the question. Today the House stands firmly to proclaim to the world that genocide is happening, that evil is real, and that it must be stopped. We urge the administration to join us. We must look evil in the face and confront it, because if we do not wake up, more innocent blood will be shed.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, 62 years ago today, in 1954, four gunmen entered the House Chamber and they opened fire. They wounded five Members of our body. As you know, you can still see a bullet hole in the desk on the floor and where they hit the ceiling of our Chamber. And on this day in 1971, a bomb exploded in the Capitol in a Senate bathroom. No one was hurt, but it was a shock that another act of such violence could happen here. In both instances and every day since, our Capitol Police sacrifice and put their lives on the line to protect our visitors, Members, and staff here in the people's House. It can be easy to forget the importance and the quiet vigilance from those who keep us safe. Our Capitol Police officers go unappreciated too often. Every day, but especially today, we should take some time and thank them for protecting the safety of everyone who visits and works in the Capitol.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, we are adopting this resolution today in honor of Justice Antonin Gregory Scalia. His passion, his eloquence, his intelligence, and, indeed, his courageous defense of our Constitution was unmatched. He exemplified how principles should be practiced and served as an irreplaceable beacon and guardian of federalism, of the separation of powers, and of liberty throughout his service on the bench. Our country has not only lost a great man but a profound man, a principled man, and a good man. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday next and that the order of the House of January 5, 2016, regarding morning-hour debate not apply on that day.

Mr. McCARTHY

Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, no votes are expected in the House. On Tuesday, the House will meet at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning hour and noon for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business. Mr. Speaker, the House will consider a number of suspensions next week, a complete list of which will be announced by close of business tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, the House will also consider H.R. 3293, the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act, sponsored by Representative Lamar Smith. This bill will go a long ways toward providing greater transparency and accountability at the National Science Foundation. It is essential that we ensure precious Federal dollars are spent on Federal grants that promote science but do so in a way that is in the best interest of the United States. Additionally, the House will consider H.R. 3442, the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act, sponsored by Representative Kenny Marchant. This commonsense bill simply requires the administration to report to Congress on the status of the Nation's debt and their plans to address our fiscal problems prior to the Nation reaching its debt limit. With more than $18 trillion in public debt, we have a responsibility, both Democrats and Republicans, to show the American people a path toward solvency. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the House will consider H.R. 2017, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act, sponsored by Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers. This important bill addresses a harmful menu labeling regulation that will burden every grocery store, convenience store, and pizza restaurant in the country. Instead, our approach will provide a reasonable and flexible way for these businesses to provide customers with nutritional information. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I did take notes because you raised a lot of different issues. The first point, you talked about Congressman Kenny Marchant's bill asking the administration to set a path forward. I agree with you. That is why I believe that any budget that comes before this floor should balance in the 10-year window. I am proud of the fact that, on this side of the aisle, we have been able to do it, because that shows you the path to solvency and how you deal with this debt through big changes. You talked about what Speaker Ryan laid out. These are big, bold, new ideas. The Speaker says that they are going to go through committee. Every Member of this body, your side and ours, will be able to participate. The legislation will come through committee. Knowing these are bold ideas and the time we have here, some will get done and some may not get done by the end of this calendar year, but that doesn't mean that we can't finish the job. If we want to save this country and put us on a path of solvency and increased growth, these are areas that we find need to get done. We look forward to you working with us on all of these areas.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Well, I was just speaking with the Budget Committee chairman. He is trying to move that process up. It is our goal. If we can reach that goal before the first part of March and get that done, we can move up the appropriations process. As you know, it is difficult to move too fast because you have the committee hearings and you want the input and to be able to have the accountability and oversight of all the agencies. We have to have those hearings so that both sides of the aisle are in those committees and are able to produce something that is very productive. Yes, it is our goal to try to move the process up this year. As soon as we have that scheduled for the floor, I will let you know.

Mr. McCARTHY. We are looking at that timeframe, yes.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank my friend for yielding. As the gentleman knows, we are committed to addressing this issue. We have had numerous meetings and we have also had committee hearings. Even this week, Chairman Bishop and the Natural Resources Committee are hard at work to find the best path forward. We are committed to getting this done. I will not prejudge the committee on what the solution should be, but I know they are hard at work. We continually monitor it week to week. As soon as we have it scheduled, I will notify the gentleman.

Mr. McCARTHY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, but I do want to thank the gentleman for still being able to work Ex-Im Bank into the colloquy.