Martha McSally

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Tammie Jo Shults, the Southwest Airlines captain who heroically and expertly landed the damaged Boeing 737 last week. She saved 148 lives through her courage, skill, professionalism, and nerves of steel. We also mourn the death of Jennifer Riordan, who was killed by the immediate effects of this mishap. Tammie Jo Shults was a hero long before this successful emergency landing. Captain Shults was one of the first female fighter pilots for the U.S. Navy and one of the first to fly the F/A-18. Although she was never allowed to fly in combat, she became an aggressive pilot and an instructor. Tammie Jo reminds us that the airplane doesn't care whether you have ovaries or not, as long as you have the qualifications and training to complete the mission. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I introduced a resolution on Monday to commend Captain Tammie Jo Shults for her unflappable courage that saved so many lives and for paving the way for women in the military and commercial aviation to finally fly in combat and lead as equals. Generations of women can fight for freedom and save lives, like she did, because of her. Thanks for leading the way, Tammie Jo, for all of us.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues from Arizona to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the shooting that took place on January 8, 2011, in Tucson, Arizona. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was meeting with her constituents when a gunman opened fire. He killed 6 people and injured 13 more, including the Congresswoman. Last year, when I led this moment of silence, many people in this Chamber could only imagine being the target of a gunman. This year, even more Members of Congress have lived that reality. Majority Whip Steve Scalise narrowly escaped with his life, thanks to the quick action of brave Capitol police. Hateful violence against elected officials is not an attack on any particular individual. It is an attack on a party. It is an attack on our representative government and the ideals that underpin our democracy. I believe our Nation can chart a new course. Where there has been division, there can be unity. Where there has been hatred, there can be understanding. Where there has been vitriol, there can be civil discourse. In the aftermath of the 2011 shooting, Tucson united to support the grieving, honor the victims, and commend our first responders. Just this morning, my hometown dedicated the January 8 Memorial in downtown Tucson. Tonight, we remember those we lost: Christina-Taylor Green; Dorothy Morris; Judge John Roll; Phyllis Schneck; Dorwan Stoddard; and congressional staffer, Gabriel ``Gabe'' Zimmerman. Mr. Speaker, I would now ask that the House rise and observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, I had the honor to meet with the leadership team of Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness in beautiful Sonoita, Arizona. The 130-acre retreat is nestled in a riparian valley in southern Arizona just 60 miles south of Tucson, Arizona. This beautiful facility is the second rural retreat established to provide free respite, activities and programs for our nation's seriously Wounded Warriors and their family members. Boulder Crest provides private accommodations, recreational and healing activities focused on the science of posttraumatic growth for approximately 700 personnel each year. The retreat has much to offer including: Three beautiful homes that can accommodate up to six people and are available for 2 to 7 night stays; A lodge where guests can gather to connect with other families and participate in programs; Extensive outdoor amenities that include an archery range, nature trails, playground, organic garden, bird sanctuary and fishing pond; Recreational activities and programs include nature walks, fishing, archery, gardening, swimming and kayaking in the nearby Parker Canyon and Patagonia lakes, hiking the Arizona Trail; and Numerous healing activities for combat stress and first responder recovery to include yoga, meditation, journaling, art and music therapy, canine, and equine assistance therapy. Retired U.S. Navy bomb disposal expert, Master Chief Ken Falke and his wife Julia came up with the idea after numerous visits to severely wounded EOD personnel at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The Falkes founded the EOD Warrior Foundation and wanted to provide a place where Wounded Warriors and their family members could escape their grueling treatment schedules and find solace outside of the hospital. Boulder Crest Retreat Virginia has hosted over 3,000 personnel in four years since opening Boulder Crest Retreat Virginia and we are very excited to bring their success to Arizona. Please also know that a $10 million gift was provided to make this happen by the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation in Bethesda, Maryland. I would like to take a moment to honor Ken and Julia Falke, the staff, the volunteers, and donors for making this idea a reality. I am proud to have this remarkable facility in my state. God bless our troops and God bless the United States of America. I would like to include in the Record the following press release on receipt of a transformational $10 million donation from the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation to heal combat veterans and their family members: (From PRNewswire, July 6, 2017) A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation Provides $10 Million Transformational Donation to Heal Combat Veterans and Their Family Members boulder crest retreat expands out west SONOITA, AZ.--Today, Boulder Crest Retreat announces a $10 million donation from the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation. This is the largest gift in Boulder Crest Retreat's history. The gift provides the capacity to expand its programs to the western United States for veterans and families who are healing from combat-related stress. After 16 years of war, the longest in American history, it is estimated that 2.1 million combat veterans and family members struggle with invisible wounds. With only 50 percent of those struggling willing to seek help from the mental health system, Boulder Crest Retreat offers a non-clinical, accessible, acceptable, and effective approach that ensures veterans and their family members can make peace with the past, live in the present, and plan for a great future at home. The $10 million donation enables Boulder Crest Retreat to double the number of people they serve in their current Virginia facility and expand geographically by helping to support the purchase a newly remodeled 130-acre Apache Springs Ranch just 45 minutes south of Tucson, Arizona in the beautiful town of Sonoita. Four years ago, the Foundation provided a donation of $250,000 to Boulder Crest Retreat to build the first of four log cabins in Bluemont, Virginia. One year later, the Foundation donated $1.25 million to construct the A. James Clark Lodge in Bluemont. These donations enabled Boulder Crest Retreat to host more than 2,600 combat veterans and family members to date. Halfway through an 18-month longitudinal study conducted by leading psychologists Dr. Richard Tedeschi and Dr. Bret Moore, it is clear that Boulder Crest's PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) programs deliver results that far outpace the status quo, and represent a ground breaking and scalable solution for PTSD and combat- related stress. The results of this study led the board of directors at Boulder Crest Retreat on a strategic mission to scale their success nationwide. The Foundation's investment allows Boulder Crest Retreat to expand and work with other organizations around the nation that are interested in adopting the Boulder Crest Retreat Warrior PATHH curriculum. ``We are humbled beyond words and honored by the decision of the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation directors. The Clarks are true patriots and philanthropists--I personally know their passion for serving our nation's military,'' says Ken Falke, chairman and founder of Boulder Crest Retreat. ``This gift will change the lives of tens of thousands of military and veteran family members, and allow them to live the great lives they deserve.'' Boulder Crest Retreat provides combat veterans and their families with a strength-based healing and recharging program. These programs come in two forms--PATHH programs which are based on the science of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), a proven framework to transform times of deep struggle into profound strength and lifelong growth. PATHH programs are free and include Warrior PATHH, Family PATHH, Couples PATHH, and Caregiver PATHH. In addition to its PATHH suite of programs, Boulder Crest Retreat devotes a portion of each calendar year to Family Rest and Reconnection (R&R) Retreats. These free retreats are 2-7 nights in length and provide families with the opportunity to rest, reconnect, recharge, and grow--together. The A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation, formerly the Clark Charitable Foundation, provides investments to help hard workers with a drive to achieve. The Foundation seeks out grantees that build practical, immediate, and concrete connections between effort and opportunity--from creating scholarships for engineering students, to improving schools for D.C.'s children, to providing veteran reintegration programs. ``Our mission has always been to enrich the lives of people in our community and to give back,'' explains Bob Flanagan of the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation. ``Our team has witnessed the beauty, attention to detail, and impact of Boulder Crest Retreat Virginia and is very excited to provide this gift in Mr. Clark's honor to help replicate Boulder Crest Retreat in Arizona.'' about the a. james and alice b. clark foundation We believe in the power of hard work. This conviction enabled our founder, A. James Clark, to grow a local construction company into a national success. And it guides the philanthropic giving we continue in his name today. At the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation, we invest to help hard workers with a drive to achieve. We seek out grantees who build practical, immediate and concrete connections between effort and opportunity--from scholarships for engineering students, to better schools for D.C.'s children to veteran reintegration programs. Then we give our grantees the resources and autonomy they need to succeed, holding them to the highest expectations on behalf of the individuals they serve. For more information about the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation, please visit http:// www.clarkfoundationdc.org. about boulder crest Boulder Crest Retreat Foundation owns and operates two rural sanctuaries that provide free accommodations, recreational, and therapeutic activities, and breakthrough combat stress recovery programs to help our nation's military and veteran personnel and their families thrive and live great lives--full of passion, purpose, and service--here at home in the aftermath of war. Boulder Crest Retreat Virginia is a 37-acre facility located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Bluemont, Virginia, just 50 miles west of Washington, D.C. Boulder Crest Retreat Arizona is a 130-acre ranch located just 45 minutes south of Tucson, Arizona in Sonoita. Boulder Crest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is entirely funded through private donations from individuals, foundations and corporations. For more information about Boulder Crest Retreat, please visit http:// www.bouldercrestretreat.org.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Staff Sergeant Emil Rivera-Lopez, 31, from Tucson, Arizona. He was tragically killed on August 25 when his helicopter crashed during a training mission off the coast of Yemen. SSgt Rivera-Lopez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He enlisted in the Army in 2006 as a helicopter maintainer, quickly distinguishing himself. He was selected for service in the prestigious 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment in 2013. He was decorated many times for his service in Afghanistan and several other locations in the Global War on Terror. SSgt Rivera-Lopez leaves behind his wife Amanda Rivera, a 13 year-old stepson, Master William Sanderson, Jr., his mother Carlita Lopez, and his father Eduvigis Rivera. It is my sad duty to include in the Record the name of Emil Rivera-Lopez for his faithful service to this country.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3551, the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Reauthorization Act of 2017. The Customs- Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, or C-TPAT, is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's flagship global supply chain security program. C- TPAT is recognized throughout the world as the premier cargo pre- vetting program. My legislation reauthorizes the program for the first time in 11 years to ensure that the program is ready to meet the dynamic threats currently facing the global supply chain, and that C-TPAT participants receive tangible benefits for their partnership with CBP. When a company joins C-TPAT, they agree to work with CBP to protect the supply chain, identify security gaps, and implement specific security measures and best practices. In order to receive benefits such as shorter wait times and fewer inspections at ports of entry, applicants must enhance security throughout their supply chain by undergoing vetting and a site visit by CPB. While the SAFE Port Act of 2006, which established the program, set a strong foundation for the current success of C-TPAT, this bill not only codifies the structure of the current program, but also makes sure C- TPAT remains a true partnership between CBP and private industry. Under this bill, CBP will be required to formally liaise with industry stakeholders when implementing new or updated security criteria, and provide tangible benefits to all participants at various stages of the CBP vetting process. My legislation also reduces redundant inspections on pre-vetted cargo and provides CBP with a mechanism to suspend or expel participants from the program if they fail to abide by security requirements or pose a threat to national security. Furthermore, it establishes a process for CBP with congressional oversight requirements to continuously vet participants, review their security measures, and conduct site visits of their facilities to ensure compliance with and continued dedication to security measures. Reducing wait times and inspections for participants who enhance the global supply chain greatly enhances cross-border trade and economic growth while reducing the workload of already overworked officers at CBP. C-TPAT achieves this in a way that also strengthens our national security through rigorous initial and recurrent background checks and site visits. I am proud to sponsor the reauthorization of this highly successful program in order to expand its reach and increase its benefits to private industry. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, October 23, 2017. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: I am writing with respect to H.R. 3551, the ``C-TPAT Reauthorization of 2017.'' This bill contains provisions within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. The Committee on Ways and Means will not seek a sequential referral on H.R. 3551 so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration. This is done with the understanding that the jurisdictional interests of the Committee on Ways and Means over this and similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered. In addition, the Committee reserves the right to seek conferees on H.R. 3551 and requests your support when such a request is made. I would appreciate your response confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 3551 and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor. Sincerely, Kevin Brady, Chairman.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3551) to amend the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 to reauthorize the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I appreciate the bipartisan support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 504) to permanently authorize the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Program.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 504, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, has been an economic catalyst for the Asia-Pacific region since 1989. APEC facilitates increased trade and business cooperation among the 21 member countries in the region that promote innovation, inclusiveness, and sustainable growth. Specifically, this bill reauthorizes the APEC Business Travel Card Program. The program began as a pilot in 2011, and this bill would implement best practices found throughout the 7-year pilot program. The APEC Business Travel Card is a travel document issued to business travelers who are citizens of APEC-participating economies. Valid for 5 years, the card eliminates the need for its holders to possess a visa when visiting other APEC-participating economies as long as preclearance has been obtained through a trusted traveler application process. Our partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region are more important now than ever before. The APEC Business Card champions free and open trade, promotes economic integration, enhanced border security, and facilitates a sustainable global business environment. The program also helps to enhance border integrity and security in participating economies by prechecking each applicant against watch lists of other participating economies. The program offers cost savings to travelers and moves frequent travelers who have been prescreened through the international travel process more efficiently. The APEC Card is currently set to expire on September 30, 2018. Now is the time to reauthorize this important partnership between the United States and our friends in the APEC region. I would like to thank my colleagues Miss Rice and Mr. Donovan for introducing the House version of this bill, as well as Ms. Hirono and Mr. Daines in the Senate for their part in moving this legislation forward. I urge Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 1547, the Udall Park Land Exchange Completion Act. Udall Park is a cherished urban park in the heart of Tucson. The city has invested millions of dollars in park facilities, including construction of very large community recreation and senior centers, a large swimming pool, a walking track, and multiple athletic fields and picnic areas. In 2011, the mayor and city council approved a master plan update that calls for plans to invest even more money into the park by way of additional athletic fields and expanded recreational programming. However, unresolved disputes over this land have directly impeded the city from taking advantage of opportunities to supplement park funding, approve certain community events, or look to other commercial ventures like local farmers markets on small portions of the park that would benefit the city in general. The Udall Park Land Exchange Completion Act resolves this historic land exchange agreement between the city of Tucson and the Bureau of Land Management at Udall Park. In 1989, the city of Tucson and BLM entered into an agreement to exchange 297 acres of land adjacent to Saguaro National Park for 173 acres of BLM-owned land in northeast Tucson, now known as Udall Park. This agreement specifically outlined that the terms and conditions of this land conveyance would include a legislative fix to remove any and all encumbrances on Udall Park. Unfortunately, this legislation never came to fruition due to staff changes in multiple agencies in the city, and who knows what else, but as a result, the city has been prevented from utilizing Udall Park to its fullest extent. Recently, the issue came to a head over disputes on a small commercial lease located in Udall Park. Federal red tape should not stand in the way of communities like mine developing local parks. It is common sense. Udall Park is a beautiful place in our southern Arizona community to gather, but this longstanding land dispute has prevented the city of Tucson from improving the park and growing it to its full potential for too long. When I am out and about in my district and people come to me with challenges and issues like this, the first question I usually ask is: Does this literally take an act of Congress to fix? Let me say that again. Does this literally take an act of Congress to fix? In this case, the answer is yes. I appreciate, as we testified before the House Natural Resources Federal Land Subcommittee, the ranking member, Ms. Hanabusa, was saying, no kidding, in July: ``If it takes an act of Congress to get this done . . . then that's what we've got to do.'' I am with the ranking member at this point. It is time to finally take action and get this thing finished. My legislation would formally and finally complete a long overdue agreement on land that has already been exchanged at fair market value. The act directs conveyance of the Federal reversionary interest in Udall Park to the city, as the parties intended when the land exchange was made. This bill will allow Tucson to finally take full ownership of the park. In closing, I want to thank Chairman Bishop, Chairman McClintock, and the members of the Natural Resources Committee, really, on both sides of the aisle, for working with me to move this legislation forward. This has got strong bipartisan support. I look forward to seeing this issue through and ensuring the land transfer is completed.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in favor of my amendment to the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act. This amendment would approve access to America's prized treasures by increasing the National Park Service's Facility Maintenance and Operations account by $9.7 million, bringing the funding amount up to the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. In doing so, this amendment will help address the longstanding deferred maintenance needs of the Park Service. Currently, the National Park Service has an $11.9 billion backlog, which is a figure that has increased steadily since 2009. According to the most recent NPS deferred maintenance report, the Yosemite National Park, in Chairman Calvert's home State, has a backlog of $555 million. Yellowstone has a backlog of $716 million across three States. The Grand Canyon's backlog of $350 million makes up a large portion of my home State's--Arizona--delayed and deferred projects. In fact, Arizona has one of the largest backlogs of any State in the country: $565 million. This problem doesn't only impact the crown jewels of the park system. In my district, maintenance projects require attention at the Saguaro National Park of approximately $12.9 million, of which the Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County faces roughly $10.3 million in needed restoration projects. Mr. Chairman, this country and my State is home to some of the world's most renowned landscapes and natural beauty. By providing this modest funding increase to address some of the backlog across the Nation, my amendment will ensure Americans have unimpaired access to their national parks and that the enjoyment of these wonders is available for future generations. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate your support of the amendment, and I would ask all Members on both sides of the aisle to support our national parks and support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition. As the only Air Force Academy graduate in Congress, we train these cadets to become officers and leaders and warfighters for our military. We are not training them to become pro athletes, just like my colleague said here. And you want to talk about morale? Having been there, there is nothing worse than watching somebody try to get out of their commitment to go play pro sports, for the rest of the cadets that are there ready to lead America into battle. I strongly support the underlying bill. We are at a time of military crisis and readiness crisis right now. We do not release people to go fly for the airlines or go start their own business or go be an entrepreneur or go to a high-tech company and then just say: Oh, just pay it back. There are so many people that are trying to get into these academies so they can wear the uniform and lead America into battle. So this is about warfighting, not about becoming a linebacker. So let's please--I am urging my colleagues to vote down this amendment and to support the underlying bill.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding individuals in my congressional district who I was proud to award as First Responders of Distinction earlier this week. We all benefit from the sacrificial work of our first responders, whether we have personally experienced it as they responded to our emergency or whether we indirectly benefit from it by enjoying the safety that they provide. The everyday acts of heroism by first responders in our community often go uncelebrated. They keep our streets safe, put their lives on the line during emergencies, provide assistance whenever needed, and save lives. Above and beyond even that standard of greatness, there are outstanding first responders in my district who serve southern Arizona in truly extraordinary ways. These individuals organize community races, develop emergency preparedness training, log hundreds of volunteer hours, launch public education campaigns, and provide meals for disabled seniors. That is why I created the First Responders of Distinction Award to shine a spotlight on individuals who make extraordinary contributions in our community. This year, we reached a significant number of nominations, and I was pleased to recognize each one for the role they play. Our winner in the individual category goes to Lieutenant Mertie Stompro, who has served in the Sierra Vista Police Department for 20 years. His many leadership roles include team leader for the Sierra Vista Police Department Tactical Unit and founding member of the Sierra Vista Police Department's Special Response Team. Mertie distinguished himself as the sergeant overseeing firearms training for the department. He developed force-on-force training to simulate real-life scenarios that officers face in the community. His steadfast approach to challenging officers in the training environment has greatly improved the skill level and preparedness of all ranks in the Sierra Vista Police Department. In his spare time, Lieutenant Stompro has coordinated an annual Foot Pursuit 5K. It is a race that has become the largest organized race in the Sierra Vista area and fosters positive interaction between law enforcement and the community. Last year, it raised $6,000 for the annual Christmas with a Cop event sponsored by the Sierra Vista Police Officers' Association. In this photo, you can see Lieutenant Stompro engaging with a child at Christmas with a Cop, which gives 100 underprivileged children in Cochise County the opportunity to spend $100 on whatever they wish to purchase. For the last 2 years, during the National Bike and Walk to School Week, he comes in to work before shift and transforms one of the armored vehicles into a Batmobile, driving Batman and Ghostbuster around each school in the Sierra Vista neighborhoods to interact with the kids. Lieutenant Stompro has also worked tirelessly over the last several years to develop emergency preparedness training exercises in the local schools and developed a lasting partnership with the Sierra Vista Unified School District. He took the lead in developing exercises to coordinate efforts in the event of an active shooter situation. Lieutenant Stompro embodies the Sierra Vista Police Department's mantra of ``Service with Honor,'' and we are fortunate to have him in our community. Our team winner for 2017 is the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base 355th Civil Engineering Squadron Fire Emergency Services, pictured here receiving their award. Davis-Monthan's Fire Emergency Services team provides fire, rescue, emergency medical, and combat support in 25 operating bases year round. In the past year, they hosted over 500 firefighters from 12 neighboring departments, three local fire academies and local law enforcement agencies, and joint SWAT/Rescue Task Force training. In the last year, this team provided more than 150 hours of fire prevention education, supporting over 300 children at Borman Elementary and Sonoran Science Academy. Additionally, they volunteered 250 hours to Habitat for Humanity, Tanque Verde Little League, STARBASE, Pima Interagency Training Committee, Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence, the Public Safety and Emergency Services Institute, and numerous other organizations. Despite being 30 percent undermanned, they protect $50 billion in assets and 14,000 personnel. Even with the diverse demands, they were able to combine their experience, hard work, and talent to garner the prestigious milestone of Commission on Fire Accreditation International, an honor only 230 departments in the world have earned. Mr. Speaker, these are just two examples of the heroic and extraordinary first responders we are blessed to have serving in my district. We will never fully be able to repay these individuals for the way they shaped and improved our lives, but we can applaud them and offer our sincerest gratitude. Before I yield back, I want to point out I am standing here in my professional attire, which happens to be a sleeveless dress and open- toed shoes.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Emil Franzi, a dear friend and a legend in our southern Arizona community. Born on the Fourth of July, Emil Franzi was a patriot and outspoken conservative commentator, political strategist, columnist, and talk show host who had an encyclopedic knowledge of local politics. Franzi's radio career spanned three decades, and he was host for the ``Inside Track.'' His passing marks the end of an era. Franzi loved classical opera, guns, and the old west. He worked to preserve local western heritage through his ``Voices of the West'' radio show. Underneath his curmudgeonly exterior was a soft and charitable heart. Not only did he raise three successful daughters, he also took in a number of youth as a foster parent with his wife, Kathy. Franzi also adopted many stray animals. One of them, here, he named after me: Martha, this 6-month-old puppy--one of the highest honors I have received as a fellow dog lover. Emil Franzi passed away on June 7 after battling cancer. He was 78. He left an indelible mark on southern Arizona. I am deeply grateful for Emil's friendship, advice, and his faithful support. He will be sorely missed.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Phillip D. Ledford, Navy veteran, dog lover, patriot, and husband to Helene, his wife of 41 years. I was blessed to be Phil's next-door neighbor in Tucson for the last 20 years. Having lost my father at the age of 12, Phil became a father figure to me, and I loved him deeply. Phil was born in Ohio and joined the Navy in 1963, at the age of 17, requiring his father to approve his enlistment. After 4 years serving as a boilerman and traveling the world, he transitioned to civilian life. After working in Ohio as a commercial refrigerator technician, Phil, Helene, and their beloved English Setter named Molley moved to Tucson. Phil and his best friend and brother-in-law Mike would go on adventures in the desert and mountains, exploring old mines, gold prospecting, and hiking the beautiful landscapes of Arizona. After Molley passed away, Phil and Helene couldn't imagine bringing another dog into their broken hearts for a while. Slowly, my Golden Retriever, Penelope, started to melt his heart, and soon they were spending their days together. Phil and Helene cared for Penelope when I was deployed to Afghanistan, then drove across the country to help me move when I got orders to Alabama. Phil came out to babysit Penelope and even drove her all the way back to Tucson to be at home for a while with Helene. Phil volunteered to be a foster for the local Golden Retriever rescue organizations. He took this responsibility seriously, caring for many goldens coming out of difficult circumstances. One golden named Rudy had cancer, and Phil agreed to care for him until he passed. Rudy was deathly afraid of thunder, but Phil discovered that Rudy's fears were cured if he was riding in a car. So every time storms came, Phil would load Rudy up--even borrowing Mike's van so that Rudy could enter more easily--and drive him around so he wasn't afraid during the storm, even if the storm lasted all night--no complaints and no questions asked. When I returned home to Tucson, we cut a hole in the wall between the two houses, and we had doggy doors, food bowls, toys, and treats in both places. Penelope happily lived in both of her homes again, roaming freely. What a life. What love. Phil was with me when Penelope passed in 2014. Within a few weeks, Phil's best friend Mike went to be with the Lord after battling Agent Orange-caused cancer for years. It was a rough spring for Phil, losing his best guy friend and furry friend so quickly. Despite our grief, we soon welcomed a rescue golden named Boomer into our lives and hearts. Boomer was a 10-month-old, energetic handful, and Phil got to work with his training, coaching, and love. Phil was a patriot, who loved his country, God, and valued a hard day's work. He was a skilled tradesman, who was always eager to pull out his tools and try to fix literally anything that broke in the house or car. Those of us who knew him best and loved him called him our favorite curmudgeon. He was stubborn and opinionated but would literally give you the shirt off his back or the last dollar in his wallet. He used to scold me on my lack of discipline with the dogs. Boomer would get rambunctious with me and not listen but was perfectly well behaved with Phil. I realized, finally, that Boomer saw me as a litter mate and Phil as the pet parent. In November 2015, Phil was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. The last year and a half, he navigated an extremely difficult journey. He channeled his stubbornness towards his fight against cancer and refused to give up or get down. His deep character traits of selflessness, faith, love, courage, and humility were tested and purified on this walk. He was a hero and example to all of us in the face of extreme pain, suffering, adversity, and eventually the end of his physical life. In mid-April, the cancer came back with a vengeance and rapidly spread. The pain was unbearable at times, and it was so difficult for us to watch him suffer. Two weeks ago yesterday, he took a turn for the worse. I flew home from D.C. to be with him. After a long night, Helene, Boomer, and I were by his side, praying he would be willing to let go and be received into God's holy embrace. He was unconscious for over 24 hours, but in that prayer, he scrunched his eyes closed twice, took his last breath, and went to be with the Lord, finally free of all the suffering and fully restored. We could all learn a lot from Phil Ledford. He did not live a complicated life and found pure joy in simple and beautiful things: a walk with a beloved dog; exploring with his best friend Mike; watching football with his adored bride, Helene; tinkering with the furnace or his Jeep; a walk and casual dinner at our local favorite restaurant, Papa Locos; driving me to the airport or events with constituents; taking care of and protecting those whom he loved. He didn't seek glory, fame, or riches, but humanity, integrity, loyalty, and service. Phil Ledford was a good man with a large heart and a selfless spirit. I truly could not have served in my calling in uniform and in Congress without his love and support. He directed us to not have a memorial service or funeral, but he never said anything about a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. It is the least I could do to honor his impact on my life and all those blessed to know him and love him, human and furry. We love you and miss you, Phil. As the song says: ``Go rest high on that mountain. Son, your work on Earth is done.''

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of my amendment to H.R. 10, the Financial CHOICE Act. Since Dodd-Frank was signed into law, we have seen more than 1,900 community financial institutions in the U.S. close. Additionally, rules promulgated to combat money laundering in transnational organizations have had unintended consequences on legitimate businesses along the border. In my home State of Arizona, banks and legitimate businesses along the U.S.-Mexico border have been particularly hard hit by ambiguous and onerous regulations. In the last decade, Arizona has lost 70 percent of its community banks. These regulations, which were meant to minimize risk and combat money laundering, have actually contributed to high transaction costs and imposed substantial difficulties for legitimate companies engaged in cash-intensive types of businesses, like ranchers and farmers. Many banking institutions have closed their doors, and others have dropped customers participating in cross-border commerce. As a result, individuals and local businesses, some of them family-owned who have been operating in the region for generations, have since lost access to banking services and the capital they rely on. I strongly support Federal efforts to combat money laundering and illicit activities, and I understand how transnational criminal organizations can exploit vulnerabilities in the financial system for their own gain. However, limiting the availability of banking services and hampering cross-border transactions to legitimate businesses has negative impacts on communities in my district. Should this be the result of regulations handed down by Washington, the Treasury Department should examine ways to remove these unintended consequences. As such, my amendment simply asks the Department of Treasury to review existing regulations and submit a report to Congress regarding its efforts to work with Federal bank regulators, financial institutions, and money service businesses to ensure that legitimate financial transactions can move freely and globally. It is critical that the new administration engage with small businesses and local stakeholders in the Southwest to ensure legitimate cross-border commerce can continue to be a major contributor to our economy. It is imperative we do everything we can to find a balance between economic needs of border communities while maintaining strong safeguards against illicit activities. This amendment is supported by the Fresh Produce Association, the Electronic Transactions Association, and the Arizona Bankers Association. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate my colleague recognizing that this is a problem and saying he agrees with it, but then doesn't support the amendment because it is not enough. I don't understand that. I had hoped that he would support the amendment, and then we could continue to work together on other initiatives as well. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 2213, the Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act of 2017. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has two key missions: securing the border and facilitating cross-border commerce that powers the Nation's economic growth. In order to accomplish those missions, they need enough agents and officers to be able to make arrests, interdict drug loads, screen cargo from countries of concern, or move legitimate commerce and passengers through an air, land, and sea port of entry. U.S. Border Patrol agents and CBP officers are, at the end of the day, the most important border security and trade resource we have. Unfortunately, they are in short supply these days, which has created a national security and economic vulnerability that this Congress must address. CBP is critically understaffed and remains well below its congressionally mandated staffing levels by more than 1,000 CBP officers and 1,800 border patrol agents. The manpower shortage is getting worse. We are losing ground every single month, and there is no end in sight as we continue to lose experienced agents and officers through attrition without the ability to efficiently hire new ones. For example, CBP has invested $200 million in a port of entry infrastructure in Arizona, alone, over the last 8 years, but there is simply not enough staff to open up every lane that is available. I want to emphasize this point: officer and agent shortages did not happen overnight. The U.S. Border Patrol has not met its congressionally mandated hiring numbers since fiscal year 2014, and CBP has been losing officers to man our ports since early in fiscal year 2016. At the current hiring rate, approximately 113 applicants go through the process in order to hire a single officer or agent. That means CBP needs to have hundreds of thousands of people apply just to meet their current needs. We need more manpower to properly secure our border, screen passengers at our Nation's airports who arrive from overseas, and facilitate cross-border commerce that powers our economy. There are several underlying issues that are responsible for these current staffing woes. For starters, it takes more than 292 days for these 12 distinct steps, on average, to hire a new officer or agent. And even with the newer expedited system that is supposed to condense these steps into just several days, it still takes an average of 160 days to complete the process. Very few people can wait somewhere between 6 months to a year for a job. We are losing very experienced and already vetted applicants. Several years ago, the committee began working directly with the previous administration to find solutions to these staffing problems and the hiring process. The bill under consideration today represents the fruits of that bipartisan work and, as a result, was passed out of the Homeland Security Committee unanimously last month. My bill allows the Commissioner of CBP to waive the polygraph requirement for current State and local law enforcement officers who have already passed a polygraph examination, Federal law enforcement officers who have already passed a stringent background investigation, and veterans with at least 3 consecutive years in the military who have held a security clearance and passed a background check. These exemptions are purely discretionary, not mandatory. If there is something in an applicant's history or background that causes CBP concern, they can still use the polygraph exam to resolve those questions. These small changes will provide CBP with immediate relief so they are able to quickly, yet judiciously, hire officers and agents from a pool of qualified applicants who already maintain the public's trust and put their lives on the line for our security and our safety on a daily basis. I want to make my position very clear. Everyone who applies to be a CBP officer or Border Patrol agent should be thoroughly vetted to ensure there are no integrity issues in their background and they are not at risk for corruption. That is how the current system operates, and nothing in this bill would change that. That is why Congress required polygraph examinations and stringent background checks for agents in the first place. I fully support the use of polygraph examinations to weed out people who are unfit to wear the badge or carry a gun, but we can and should make these very narrow, sensible, and straightforward allowances to permit CBP to hire those who have already been vetted and proven by their service in uniform that they are suitable to become agents and officers. The National Treasury Employees Union, who represent the officers who are stationed at the ports of entry; the Non Commissioned Officers Association, who represent many of our veterans; the Fraternal Order of Police; the Border Trade Alliance; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and the Department of Homeland Security all support this bill. Indeed, this is a rare bill that has united both management and labor. I include these letters of support in the Record. The National Treasury Employees Union, June 5, 2017. Dear Representative: On behalf of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the Department of Homeland Security who are stationed at 328 land, sea and air ports of entry represented by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), I ask you to vote YES on H.R. 2213, the Anti-Border Corruption Reauthorization Act of 2017. This legislation would expand the applicant pool for vacant CBP Officer positions by allowing the CBP Commissioner to waive polygraph requirements for certain categories of job applicants. NTEU continues to have significant concerns about the slow pace of hiring at CBP. CBP has struggled to fill 2,000 Officer positions that Congress authorized in 2014. A major impediment to fulfilling CBP's hiring goal is that CBP is the only federal agency with a congressional mandate that all front-line officer applicants receive a polygraph test. Two out of three applicants fail its polygraph--about 65 percent--more than double the average rate of eight law enforcement agencies according to data provided to the Associated Press. The eight law enforcement agencies that supplied this information showed an average failure rate of 28 percent. As an example, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration failed 36 percent of applicants in the past two years. NTEU does not seek to reduce the standards used by CBP in their hiring process, but believes that there is a problem with how the polygraph is currently administered. We have asked CBP to review its current polygraph policy to understand why CBP is failing applicants at a much higher rate than individuals applying to work at other federal law enforcement agencies. H.R. 2213 expands the authority to waive polygraph examinations for certain veterans and law enforcement officers, while also safeguarding CBP's right to administer the polygraph for these exempted applicants if a need arises. Improving the current polygraph program should help in expediting the CBP Officer hiring process so that the existing 1,400 vacancies can be filled allowing CBP to move forward with funding and hiring the 2,107 additional Officers required by CBP's Workforce Staffing Model. NTEU also recommends that CBP allow immediate polygraph re-testing opportunities to those with a No Opinion or Inconclusive result, including those with a No Opinion Counter Measures finding. NTEU asks you to vote YES on H.R. 2213. Sincerely, Anthony M. Reardon, National President.