Roger Marshall

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, this past week, President Trump and Secretary Pompeo took a bold step to affirm Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. I support this administration and our long-time friend and ally, Israel, in this fight to protect their homeland. I have stood on the mountains of the Golan where Abraham and his nephew Lot parted ways some 4,000 years ago. I could hear the cannons and the missiles and the tanks just miles away in war-stricken Syria. We learned how, in a matter of hours during the Yom Kippur war of 1974, Syrian forces overran the Golan, jeopardizing both Israeli and American security. This small range of mountains, less than 125 miles from Jerusalem, serves as a buffer from Israel and its many foes who desire nothing more than to wipe them off of the face of the Earth. From the 3rd millennium B.C., the occupants of the Golan Heights have included the Amorites, Arameans, Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, the Israelites again, Alexander the Great, and the Roman Empire. In later centuries, Christians crusaded, Mongols ruled, and the Ottomans conquered the land. Starting in 1885, Jewish families bought and lived on the land in the Golan Heights, and stayed there until 1920, when riots drove them out. For the next 40 years, the boundaries of this area were debated and defined by the French and the British. We all know the State of Israel was born in 1948, and the Golan was mutually shared with neighboring countries. This, however, led to constant raids and civil unrest in the region and debate over a scarce item in the area, water. Finally, in the 1960s, Syria ignored previous water agreements and attempted to divert water from Israel. This led to the armed War over Water, which was won by Israel in 1967, and pushed the Syrians out of the Golan, leaving Israel in control once again. This is where most leftist naysayers will begin their history, as if Israel had no claim to the land in the first place or as if it never had been contested. This matters for America for a variety of reasons. Set aside the fact that Israel is our most loyal and strategically vital ally in the Middle East. Let's look at Russia. Americans are rightly concerned about the cyber and geopolitical moves of that adversarial nation. The Golan, however, is an example of where those on the left are turning a blind eye. Since the time of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, Russia has sought a warm-water port in the Mediterranean and to stake their claim to land south of the Black Sea. Not only does Syria provide them both, it also presents an opportunity for Russia and their ally Iran, as the leaders have said, to wipe Israel off the map. We cannot let this happen. We mustn't let this happen. We must continue to stand up to thugs like Putin and Assad, and with our friends in Israel. There Was No Collusion

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, in many parts of my district and all across Kansas, farmer cooperatives are the foundation of a modernized and productive agriculture industry. For decades, co-ops have been farmers' primary business partner, supplier, and grain buyer. Memberships have been passed down from one generation to another, and relationships have been lifelong. Today, our farmer co-ops are as strong and as important as ever. In the far reaches of my district, the co-ops provide feed, fertilizer, and fuel to farmers. As times and needs have changed, so too have our co-ops. From online platforms for account statements and purchasing to precision technology that reduces fertilizer inputs and improves soil productivity, innovation has been necessary and vital to the co-ops' success. Kansas farmer co-ops are responsible for more than 4,600 jobs and $1.1 billion in total economic impact, statewide. These member-owned organizations have been and will continue to be vital to the continued growth and success of the agriculture industry. Farmers are facing steep headwinds, and organizations like the co-ops are important in helping producers navigate through uncertainty in the industry. We often take the time to thank our farmers, but it is also important we thank the hardworking men and women of our farmer co-ops for the valuable time and expertise they put into supporting our farmers and our agriculture industry. Celebrating National Ag Day

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National Ag Day, a celebration of our Nation's oldest and most important industry and the hardworking men and women who put food on our table, clothes on our back, and fuel in our cars. The number of people in agriculture today is but a fraction of what it was 100 years ago, but the impact of today's agriculture industry is unprecedented. Today's farmer feeds about 165 people, and agriculture remains this country's number one export. In Kansas, agriculture accounts for nearly half the State's economy, and, in my district, that number is more than 60 percent. For many rural communities, farming and ranching is the sole economic driver. Kansas is the national leader in agriculture, ranking first in the production of grain sorghum, second in the production of wheat, third for cattle, and fourth in the production of sunflowers. In fact, Kansas is second in the Nation for the total number of acres farmed. Winters like the one we are currently experiencing at home have highlighted the time and dedication farmers and ranchers have to their land and animals. In Kansas, farmers with livestock are working around the clock to ensure the animals are healthy, warm, and well fed. That means enduring subzero windchills, blizzard-like conditions, and middle-of-the-night checks. While agriculture has become a target of environmentalists who want to discontinue life as we know it in Kansas, I am here today to testify to the great work farmers and ranchers have done to protect and improve our air, land, and water. Farmers are the original conservationists, and continue to find ways to do more with less, while protecting our most valuable natural resources. National Ag Day is our opportunity to celebrate farmers and ranchers, highlight the impact they have on our communities and country, and remember the thousands of products made possible by their hard work. Back home, it is a day to introduce thousands of grade school kids to the agriculture industry with fun things like how to milk a cow, gathering eggs, and even flying drones. I encourage Members to join me today in celebration of National Agriculture Day and take time to thank a farmer.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I speak today about the passing of the great Kansan and former Member of the United States Congress, my friend, Mr. Richard Dale Nichols. Dick was born in southeast Kansas and honorably served his country in World War II as a member of the United States Navy. Upon returning to Kansas, he attended Kansas State University and was a fellow Beta Theta Pi fraternity brother. After graduation, Dick entered the banking industry and, ultimately, settled down in McPherson, Kansas, where he served as president and then as chairman of the board for Home State Bank & Trust. In 1990, Dick was elected to the United States Congress, representing the Fifth Congressional District of Kansas. Two years later, following the census, Dick's district was eliminated, and he returned to life as a businessman, but he never gave up his passion and love for our country. Dick served as president of the Kansas Bankers Association, was active in the local Chamber of Commerce, and was a fellow Rotarian. He was a proud husband, father, and grandfather, and his outgoing, optimistic personality gained him new friends wherever he traveled. I had the opportunity to get to know Dick and will always be grateful for the time and energy he spent helping me find my way to Washington, D.C. When I was back in McPherson, I always enjoyed chatting with him about Kansas State athletics, fellow Beta fraternity brothers, and Republican politics. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dick's wife, Linda, and the entire Nichols family as they mourn the loss of a great Kansan and a great man. He will certainly be missed. Restoring Integrity of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the progress made over the past two years to close the digital divide. Access to a reliable internet connection remains a significant challenge in rural America and across my district. Society is becoming more and more reliant on broadband, whether for access to educational resources, telemedicine, or precision agriculture technology. At the end of 2016, more than 26 million Americans did not have access to high speed internet. However, in a recent draft report circulated by Chairman Pai, that number dropped to just over 19 million at the end of 2017, with many of these new connections being in rural America. According to that report, fiber was deployed to another almost 6 million homes by the end of 2018, which is the largest number ever recorded. Reducing regulatory burdens for deployment has helped to incentivize investment. Our local providers are working hard to leverage Federal programs, private dollars, and savings from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to further deploy broadband infrastructure to rural communities, better connecting our farmers, small businesses, and families. Companies like Rockhouse Motion, a digital media company in Geneseo, Kansas, or Rollin J Boutique in Phillipsburg, Kansas, both in my district, are able to thrive thanks to that internet connection. Mr. Speaker, I applaud our efforts at the FCC, the USDA, and Congress to make broadband access in rural America both affordable and reliable. I also encourage my colleagues to continue working to ensure that Americans have access to an internet connection no matter where they live.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of Secretary Sonny Perdue and the Department of Agriculture's proposed rule to restore the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and implement the program as a safety net, not a way of life. In 2019, too many able-bodied men and women remain on the sidelines of our workforce. Recent data published by the U.S. Federal Reserve in February indicate a historically robust economy yet sluggish labor force participation rates, indicating a continued reluctance by some to engage in the workplace. According to data from USDA, we have more families accepting SNAP dollars today than we did at the height of the financial crisis of 2008. Despite major economic gains and today's record low unemployment; too many States are allowing people to opt out of work, leaving employers to spend valuable resources searching for men and women to fill our many vacant jobs. By requiring able-bodied adults without minor dependents who are seeking SNAP benefits to work at least 20 hours a week while participating in training or educational programs, we are ensuring these men and women are no longer disengaged from the labor market, but finding a way back to the workforce and long-term self-sufficiency. This Nation's economy is as strong as it has been in my professional lifetime. We must continue to encourage individuals to become self- sufficient and find new employment opportunities. For too long, too many States have bypassed the rules and allowed able-bodied adults to neglect valuable job training and educational opportunities. Employers across the country have good-paying jobs that can help individuals move out of poverty and regain their independence and integrity. It is time we restore SNAP to its intended purpose, help men and women move back into the workforce, and take a major step in closing the workforce participation gap. Closing the Digital Divide

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the many women who have shaped our country's successes and are inspiring our future. This month, we celebrate Women's History Month and recognize the women who have fought for equality and positively impacted their communities. The courage and resolve of our women must not go unnoticed. In Kansas, we are always quick to highlight the great Amelia Earhart, our hometown aviation pioneer. But today, I want to highlight the millions of women around the world who have made and continue to make significant impacts on their families, communities, and workplaces through meaningful, everyday contributions. My own mother, Nancy, taught me many family values that continue to give me strength and guide me throughout fatherhood and in my career as an obstetrician. She instilled in me the value of proper nutrition at an early age, which I was able to go on and explain in very commonsense terms to all my patients as an obstetrician. My mom emphasized the importance of a healthy breakfast and sitting down each night as a family for dinner, something my wife, Laina, and I prioritized as parents as well. She taught me all these lessons while also working a full-time job as an office manager. Her dedication to her family and career didn't garner news headlines, but it made a significant impact and allowed me to grow up understanding the outcomes of hard work. My wife, Laina, went to school to be a nurse at Butler County Community College and later worked in the neonatal intensive care unit, caring for premature babies. She made a huge impact on all those babies' lives, as well as their families and their development. Now, as a mother of four and grandmother of two, I often tell people my wife has the most important job in America: raising our children. I know there are millions of mothers around the globe who have and continue to provide the same energy, time, and dedication to their children, families, and communities. Too often, we don't take the time to share and celebrate these contributions, but we all know a woman who has made a significant impact on our lives. As we celebrate Women's History Month, I challenge you to thank those women who have positively influenced your life, improved our communities, and contributed to the success of this great Nation. Recognizing Leadership of Dr. Bobby Moser

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my friend and fellow western Kansas physician, Dr. Bobby Moser, for his leadership with the Kansas Heart and Stroke Collaborative, an initiative funded through CMS' Health Care Innovation Awards. The effort started in 2014 with the University of Kansas Health System, Hays Medical Center, 10 critical-access hospitals, and the First Care Clinic to provide an innovative care delivery and payment model designed to improve heart health and stroke outcomes for rural Kansans. When they first received this 3-year Federal grant, they were nothing shy of ambitious. In their proposal, they aimed to reduce healthcare costs by nearly $14 million and reduce deaths from stroke and heart attack by 20 percent. The collaborative wanted to accomplish this using data in a meaningful way, enhancing bedside care, and building sustainable models for access and treatment. They have indeed shown signs of good work, and they are expanding their efforts. This group has helped hospitals track and audit data to find ways to improve patient performance. Dr. Moser recently reported that the clinical network of hospitals has improved medications and delivery time for getting clot-busting drugs to patients that literally save lives and prevent lifelong paralysis. Since its inception, these physicians have grown to reach more counties and are able to help more patients. Now called Care Collaborative, they are exploring new payment systems for rural hospitals and focusing on expanding into new medical treatments, like palliative care. With more than 50 critical-access hospitals in my district, the resources developed through this collaborative have been lifesaving and critical for our hospitals and, most importantly, rural patients.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I must admit that, back home, the Green New Deal means that John Deere dealers are having a new combine sale. I stand before you this evening to tell you exactly why the Green New Deal is a sham. Rather than setting realistic goals to reduce carbon emissions and incentivize cleaner energy development, this so-called deal stalls innovation and drastically expands government involvement in almost every aspect of everyday life, at a price tag of more than $50 trillion. Over the past 2 years, we have unleashed our economy by reducing government overregulation, allowing more Americans to invest in their families, futures, and pursuits. The Green New Deal will throw the brakes on our economy, as well as the world's economy. Nothing will increase worldwide carbon production more than a stalled economy. Additionally, this Green New Deal reverses our success by imposing harsher regulations that will put American workers and American companies at an extreme disadvantage. This socialist proposal that Democrats are championing completely ignores the cost to American taxpayers and fails to address the negative impacts that other countries have on global climate change. It implements policies that will dramatically increase taxes, burdens, and energy bills for families. This deal will absolutely devastate our economy with its outrageous demands for new green infrastructure, new green labor practices, and new green taxes. It will crush American manufacturing and transportation industries. It would completely halt domestic energy production that has had record exports under the Trump administration. I am a firm believer that we must focus on leaving this world better than we found it for the next generation. For my children, for your children, and for our grandchildren, we need to be good stewards of the resources and the planet we have been given, but any reasonable solution will require us to use common sense when approaching the issues. We must also be careful not to fall into the trap of believing that the U.S. Government is the answer to correct all our problems. America has always been a nation of innovators, and instead of imposing new regulations and taxes, we must continue to lead the world and partner with American industries to develop creative solutions and new innovative technologies. Innovation will do more to impact climate change than any law Washington, D.C., can write.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, since I was a freshman in high school, I wanted to become a physician. I was blessed to get to do that. By the time of my second year in medical school, my wife and I had our first daughter, and most of us were trying to decide what type of doctor we were going to be. The moment that little girl was born, I knew that I wanted to spend my medical career delivering babies. I think my wife can attest that, for the next 30 years of my life, most of my waking moments were spent with somebody in labor. I was so blessed to get to participate in that wonderful moment. I was blessed to get to go to Congress and represent the people of Kansas. I woke up a couple weeks ago to the cheering of State legislators from New York and their Governor. I turned up the volume to see what the fuss was. The fuss was they were celebrating their ability to murder the same babies that I had been trying to protect and deliver for the last 30 years of my life. I don't think there are any Americans--I have never met such an American--who would think that it is right to murder a baby moments, days, or weeks before its due date. It is the most barbaric law I have ever heard of in our society. If this wasn't enough, I turned the news on a week later, and now they are talking about murdering babies after they were born from so- called failed abortions. I cannot believe that I live in a society that would even think about this. So I went to my office the next day, and I got my staff together and said, look, we have got some legislation that is going to take care of this. We have our born survivor abortion bill that protects babies after they are born, and then we have a pain-capable bill as well to protect babies who are able to feel pain from being aborted. My staff looked at me: Right, we have got that legislation. I said: All we will need is 20 or 30 Democrats to sign on to this. Surely, the Speaker of the House is against late-term abortion. Surely, she is against infanticide. My staff looked at me with bewildered eyes and said: Congressman, I don't think we are going to find any Democrats to do that. I wanted to talk a second about the moms, too. No one is talking about how horrible this is going to be for mothers. Moms are going to die from these late-term abortions. As an obstetrician, I never did an abortion, but guess who takes care of complications from abortions. It is obstetricians. I remember the first week I was in residency. I was called to the emergency room, and there before me was a lady in shock. I apologize if this is too graphic, but the situation is so graphic, I have to tell you the details. This young lady was bleeding out buckets of blood. I found out what had happened is she just had had an abortion done hours before, and now she was hemorrhaging. I looked at the nurse. I said: What is going on here? I knew that we needed to take her to the operating room. We found out during the procedure that a piece of that baby was still inside her uterus, and the uterus couldn't clamp down, so she was hemorrhaging. This is a story I would see over and over again. The later the abortion procedure is done in the pregnancy, the more often we are going to see this. People are going to get perforated uteri. It will be catastrophic for women. Mr. Speaker, we can't allow this to continue.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call upon all Members of Congress to stand beside Israel and confront anti-Semitism, ethnic hatred, and prejudice-driven boycotts, whether at home, abroad, and certainly for Members of this Chamber. We, as a country, cannot tolerate this behavior, and certainly this Chamber has no room for bigotry. Furthermore, I must warn the general public that despite the warranted outcry we saw in response to the Representative from Minnesota's irresponsible comments, this is the new normal for the liberal base in America. To be clear, anti-Semitism has become an all-too-common occurrence in politics among the Democrat base and the far left who see Israel as nothing more than an extension of phantom corruption and colonialism. Politicians who appeal to this type of ignorance are simply shoring up a new Democratic constituency. That is the ethos that primed the Minnesota Representative's ludicrous and insulting accusation of ``bought-and-paid-for'' politicians who stand with Israel. It is that type of loose, cheap, anti-Semitic rhetoric that led to the rise of the Third Reich. It is clear to all of us, there are a couple of our new colleagues across the aisle that need to be reminded. In fact, they need to admit that the brutal regime of Iran continues to be the chief obstacle to peace and security in the Middle East, and thus, the root of most all terrorism that threatens our homeland. For decades, Iran's funding of terrorism and extremist groups in the region has fueled violence, civil war, and bloodshed. The Iranian Parliament literally burned the U.S. flag on their parliament floor and chants, ``death to Israel,'' and ``death to America'' in their streets. At home, all Americans must oppose the radical and xenophobic boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement which are promulgated by the left. This BDS campaign is peddled by intellectually dishonest anti-Semites whose sole purpose is to attack Israel, attempting to delegitimize and isolate it from the rest of the world. Any Member of this congressional body with ties to the BDS movement should renounce them immediately. We must hold our elected officials accountable. Whether on Twitter or in the Halls of Congress, disgusting insinuations and bigotry must be condemned in all forms. Those who continue the use of anti-Semitic rhetoric should be held accountable for their actions. The Democrats should follow the high standards and the high bar that the Republican leader has taken when it comes to committee assignments to those who make bigoted remarks. America must continue to stand together in support of Israel and in support of peace in the Middle East and the world. We must build upon our unbreakable alliance with Israel and overcome the challenges that come with building a better, safer world.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 150th anniversary of a town in my district, Lindsborg, Kansas, also known as Little Sweden. The town was originally settled in 1869 by hardworking Swedish farmers who, like my great-grandfather, had left Sweden because of the potato famine. These farmers were new to America and new to the landscape and climate of Kansas. Their goal was to establish a home and community rich in Swedish culture, religion, and business. Today, Lindsborg is a bright, vibrant community where retailers feature unique traditional Swedish treats and artwork; where visitors can walk up and down the streets and Main Street and find more than 15 wild Dala horses painted to represent a unique piece of Lindsborg's culture. My own family often has one of these Dala horses in their entryway as folks enter their house. It is a community that is proud of its heritage and comes together to carry on a variety of Swedish festivals and traditions honoring its original settlers. I, myself, am one-quarter Swedish and very proud of this fact. Growing up, we kept many Swedish traditions in our family. We celebrated them whenever we had the occasion. Still today, our Christmas Eve dinners always feature various Swedish dishes, including pickled herring, anchovies, hardtack crackers, Swedish candies, and desserts. My mom, brother, and wife to this day enjoy their annual pilgrimage to Lindsborg to pick out their very special Swedish Christmas gifts. In 2010, I was able to take my mother back to Sweden, along with my oldest son and daughter, and view the home that my grandfather had built; the farm where they farmed; the fences they had built out of stone; the barns they had built out of stone, still functional and standing today; and the water well my great-grandfather had dug. All of those parts of the farm were still functioning. I was able to see the church where my great-grandfather and great- grandmother were married and see the cemetery where many of our relatives are buried to this day. It is a trip I will never forget. I am very proud of my Swedish roots, and I am honored to represent Bethany College and the town of Lindsborg. This town will always have a very special place in my heart, and it is my honor to sponsor the resolution that celebrates this milestone for Lindsborg. I can't wait until this year's Messiah Festival, when we will get to watch them live there in Lindsborg. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to represent this Swedish community, something that will always represent so much to my family.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, Kansas has deep roots in the creation of the National Prayer Breakfast. President Eisenhower, who grew up near my hometown, in Abilene, Kansas, was the first President to join Members in their informal prayer event in 1953. Since that year, it has been honored as a nationally recognized event and, to this day, every President since Ike has attended. This week, I had the great honor to attend the 67th Annual National Prayer Breakfast, where we gathered to ask God for wisdom, discernment, and strength, as well as how to lead this great Nation. This country has always looked to God in times of need and will continue to do so. And now, more than ever, it is important to pray for a united Nation. I was reminded this week of the scripture from 1 Timothy that requires us to all pray for our kings and those in authority. But what I had forgotten was that there was a promise that came along with that request; that we live peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness and holiness.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, as an obstetrician, I have delivered thousands of babies and helped moms through pregnancies for 25 years. I stand before the House today disgusted by the murderous, barbarous legislation pushed by Democrats in New York legalizing abortions for any reason, all the way until the due date of the baby. This extremist antilife abortion measure is literally nauseating to me. How sad it is that we live in a time when extremists are legalizing the murder of innocent, defenseless children. The legalization of these late-term procedures that amount to infanticide are the worst thing I have heard in my entire professional lifetime. I call on my obstetricians and other physicians who deliver babies. I call on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and all physician associations to openly denounce and refuse these murderous procedures. Legal or not, this is morally reprehensible. As a father, a grandfather, a physician, and a human being who loves people, I cannot sit here in good conscience while this is going on, regardless of it being on a State level. I will do everything in my power to combat this position from spreading and protect these innocent children.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my home State's 158th birthday. As we traveled thousands of miles throughout Kansas this past week and enjoyed some time pheasant hunting countryside with my family, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the great things that the Wheat State has to offer. Kansas is known for its abundance of farmland that is used to grow crops far and wide producing the food we eat across the Nation and across the world. It is home to the most stunning sunsets you could ever witness and the beautiful Flint Hills that stretch over 150 miles where I grew up working, hunting, and fishing. But my absolute favorite part about the State I call home are the people. Where I am from, we always put our faith in family first; we support each other, uplift each other, and are resilient through tough times. I am honored to represent so many wonderful people and proud to be a Kansan.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, I am horribly disappointed and ashamed that, today, taxpayers remain the top funding source for America's abortion leader, Planned Parenthood. As an obstetrician and gynecologist, I have delivered thousands of babies from Kansas. I dedicated my career to protecting the sanctity of life, and I firmly and wholeheartedly believe that life begins at conception. There are countless stories that I could share today, and I can tell you that some of the children I delivered are now in college. Some are star athletes. Some are leaders at their church and in their communities. And some are at the top of their class. They are nurses and soldiers, doctors and pharmacists, police officers and teachers, clergy and judges. Perhaps most importantly, many are now moms and dads themselves. I know these stories because, as I travel throughout Kansas, I see the moms, the moms I have delivered, and I see their children. They are now adults leading their own lives. What no one on this Earth can do is tell the stories of the babies that were aborted and given no chance to share their gifts with the world.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Speaker, on April 3, 1968, the Reverend Martin Luther King gave what the world didn't know would be his final speech. Seven times in that address, Dr. King said, ``But I wouldn't stop there,'' as he spoke of his dreams for a better world. This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is critical that we not forget the many lessons Dr. King taught us, lessons that emphasize ways to treat our peers and our neighbors with respect, despite our differences, in order to make the dream of a better and more unified tomorrow possible. That message should resonate today more than ever to my peers in this Chamber. I have been thinking of this a lot lately, what Dr. King might say if he was here with us today, as he might see the divisive partisanship that lives among these halls, and I think he would deliver one clear message: We must unify to make meaningful changes. We must bridge the gaps that divide our Nation by working together to find common good civilly. It is no secret that division brings pain and disables our capacity to solve problems. As Martin Luther King said in his last speech in Tennessee, ``I wouldn't stop there.''

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a small town in Kansas, and perhaps the most respected person in the city was our family physician, Dr. Norman Oberholtzer. Dr. Oberholtzer delivered my brother, my sister, and, of course, me. He saved my life. He had saved many people's lives. By the time I was in 9th grade, I knew I wanted to be a physician just like Dr. Oberholtzer. I worked hard and with the support of my family and friends was able to get into medical school, and by the time I was a second-year resident, I was supposed to decide what type of physician was I going to be. Go back to February of 1987, and we had our first baby, a little girl named Lauren. And the second she was born, the moment I heard her first cry, I said: This is what I want to do. I want to deliver babies the rest of my life. So as an obstetrician for the next 30 years, every day I got to see 10, 20, 40, sometimes 50 pregnant women. It was a great experience and there were some very special visits that I really looked forward to with those moms. Their first visit for a first-time mom was always a special moment. The moms came in. They had a twinkle in their eyes and they may have been throwing up for 3 or 4 or 5 days already, but there was still a sparkle in their eye and excitement. Sometimes I would get to do a sonogram at that first visit. Believe it or not, about a month after conception, Mr. Speaker, you can see a baby's heartbeat. They would come back at about 12 weeks for their next visit. By then, their nausea was improving, and we could hear a baby's heartbeat on the Doppler for the first time. They came back again at about 18 weeks, and I would ask them: Do you feel the baby move yet? Again, the mom's eyes would sparkle that they are feeling that baby move. I would notice when I would touch the mom and when I would touch the baby, the baby would push back. If there was maybe a brother or a sister in the room, if that brother or sister spoke, I could feel the baby move, and I could actually hear the heart rate increase of that little baby inside that mom. Then, of course, later on, the favorite moment of my entire life was always getting to hear that first cry of that newborn and give that baby to a proud mom and dad. So those are great, great times. Mr. Speaker, I am often asked when I think life begins. I hope you can relate from the stories I just shared that I don't have any other choice but to believe that life begins at conception and that those babies are people, and they deserve our respect and our protection. Mr. Speaker, this week, we will be welcoming 200,000 people to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life. I especially salute some students who are coming from Beloit, Kansas, and Concordia, Kansas. Like many students, they will be riding a bus for 24 hours. I am so proud of them, and I look forward to seeing them. I appreciate their efforts to put their words into actions. Mr. Speaker, as a doctor for over 25 years, I have delivered thousands of babies. I certainly understand the responsibility I have as a Member of Congress to protect the life of the unborn. In the last 2 years, this House, thanks to a Republican majority, has passed countless bills to limit abortion, end taxpayer-subsidized abortion, and prohibit abortions of unborn babies over 20 weeks. Unfortunately, these bills never made it to the President's desk. Today, the United States is one of seven countries in the world that allows babies old enough to feel pain and survive outside the womb to be torn limb from limb. This list of seven includes China, North Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and a list of other human rights offenders that our Nation, this country, should not be proud to be part of. Each year, more than 600,000 abortions are performed across this country, costing our country precious lives. The fact is, only one in seven Americans support legal-under-all-circumstances Roe v. Wade, and still, Congress refuses to act. Over the course of my first term, I made it a top priority to fight for those who can't fight for themselves, and I will continue to do so. Abortions are an injustice to the unborn and are a complete disregard for life. Congress should prevent taxpayer money from ever being funneled into immoral organizations like Planned Parenthood and finally put an end to abortion. I will unapologetically stand with the children, with these babies, who do not have a voice of their own to fight.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, it is always good to go back home, and this weekend was especially rewarding for me. My wife and I left D.C. this past Friday afternoon, flew through Dallas, and landed in Wichita sometime shortly after sunset. As we hopped in my truck, the snow had started to fall, and it was a beautiful Kansas evening. We got home and got to see our two boys. I woke up the next morning early, went to Sterling, Kansas, for a business meeting, then went over to Salina and got to meet some more of my friends. On the way home, I got to listen to the radio. I listened to a Kansas State Wildcats basketball game and heard the Wildcats win that game by 1 point. And then when I got home, a special treat: I got to watch both the Kansas University basketball team win and watch my Kansas City Chiefs win. And I got to watch those games with my two boys. So it was a trifecta for Kansas, a great day. The next morning, I woke up early for church and went to early service, and basically had to hop in my truck and come back to D.C. that same afternoon. On the way back to the airport, I got a little bit of time to reflect; and one of the things that had come to mind was something that my good friend, my mentor, the former majority leader, one of the longest serving majority leaders in the Senate, Senator Bob Dole, had told me. One thing Senator Dole says every time I see him is to always remember where I am from. And I think I get that. I think most of us get it, that where we are from is so very important to us, and I have always done a good job with that. But the other thing that he talked about--I approached him one time when we were having a tough issue here in Congress, one of the first issues I had to vote on. What he told me, rather than giving me an answer, giving me his opinion, was to go back to Kansas, and the people of Kansas would tell me what to do. So what is ironic as I went back home for these meetings and to go to church is that, everywhere I went, I heard the same thing. I heard the same thing from people in church that I had no idea that they knew so much about what was going on in Washington. In Salina, in Sterling, everywhere I went, people asked me: When is Congress going to give the President his money to build the border?--a very simple question. So that allowed me to kind of ponder the issue a little bit more. I have stood beside the President since day one on this issue. When I was running for Congress, I made national security, border security the top priority on what I was going to stand for; and today, I have been to that border. As a physician of 25 years and now a Congressman for 2 years, I would tell you this: There is, indeed, a humanitarian crisis on the border as well as a national security issue on the border. Whether it is concerning the 2,000 people who come across that border illegally every day--every night we house some 40,000 people. We give them a bed. We feed them. Every day, two tons of illegal drugs come across our borders. Mr. Speaker, that sounds like a humanitarian crisis to me and sounds like a national security crisis to me. People then often ask me: ``Well, why don't we compromise?'' And I will tell you this. I feel like we have compromised already. The President, myself, most Republicans, we asked for $25 billion to secure those borders and to provide humanitarian help for people. We thought we probably needed to build 1,000, maybe 1,500 miles of border. We compromised from those numbers back to asking for just $5.7 billion, and now we are asking for moneys to build about 234 miles of not a wall, but a barrier, a fence. I think that that is compromise. And, Mr. Speaker, I would ask that you come back to the table now and negotiate in good faith. Mr. Speaker, people often talk that this has to be an either/or opportunity, that we either have to have border security or show compassion. We can do both. America can do both. We can have border security, we can provide for the humanitarian needs of people, and we can come up with a compassionate, long-term immigration process. This system needs to be totally overhauled. I am all in. We have had several great bills that we have tried to get through. So, Mr. Speaker, please come back to the table. Let's open up the government, and let's secure our borders.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 190, the Expanding Contracting Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2019. Small business sole source contracting can be a valuable tool for both Federal agencies and small businesses. However, our Federal procurement processes are rapidly changing, and the sole source authority provided by the Small Business Act has not kept up with these changes. By adjusting the dollar amount thresholds for these contracts, this bill will increase the opportunities available to certain small businesses utilizing the Federal procurement process. While it is critical that agencies maximize opportunities to small businesses, it is equally important that they have clear guidelines to guarantee only eligible and qualified firms receive the awards. This bill will apply new oversight procedure that requires agencies to coordinate with the SBA to ensure only eligible candidates are awarded a sole source contract. I am proud of this legislation and its mission to promote small business growth, strengthen oversight, and incentivize Federal agencies to work with small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank my colleague Congressman Schneider for teaming up with us on this bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill as well.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, the crisis on our southern border is very real. When I took the oath to represent the big First District of Kansas, it became my responsibility to put our citizens and their security first. Without secure borders, we cannot ensure our Nation's safety, period. We have tens of thousands of immigrants filling our entryways every month and, in result; drugs, criminals, and violence spilling into our country. I challenge all my colleagues that are denying this crisis exists to go and see our southern border firsthand, as I did, and it was quite an eye-opening moment. Last year alone, there were 1.7 million pounds of narcotics--let me say that again--1.7 million pounds of narcotics seized by Customs and Border Patrol. Seventeen thousand adults with existing criminal records attempted to enter our southern border; that is over 40 per day. But perhaps, Mr. Speaker, the most eye-opening of all, we are now averaging over 1,000 illegal and inadmissible people per day. That is in 1 day, over 1,000 people. The $5.7 billion the President is asking for is an investment of taxpayer dollars that will pay off for decades. The fact that some of my colleagues are blatantly ignoring that walls along the border work is intellectually dishonest. According to DHS and U.S. Border Patrol, illegal trafficking has dropped more than 90 percent in places where walls and barriers were built. It is embarrassing that, even with this evidence, my friends on the other side of the aisle shut down the government because this Congress cannot do its most basic duty to do its job and prioritize our country's safety by funding initiatives that we know for a fact work. I agree, though, that we cannot stop at border security alone. It is crucial that we also address and fix our very broken immigration system and allow hardworking migrants who want to work hard and raise their families in the United States to come. There is a right way to do this. There is a win-win-win opportunity. There is a win for border security; there is a win for immigration policy overhaul; and there is a win to reopen the small portion of government which is closed. I am continually frustrated by the narrative that we can't win for all American parties here in these negotiations. This is an opportune moment to quit kicking the can down the road and actually work together to couple border security priorities with long-term immigration fixes. As we enter the 17th day of this government shutdown, I will continue to stand for a secure America and hope my colleagues choose an open government over open borders.

Mr. MARSHALL

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2679, the Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act of 2018. This important, bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senator Duckworth and Senator Kennedy, aims to help veteran entrepreneurs cut costs and enhance their economic opportunity by giving them access to surplus Federal property. The Federal Surplus Property Program allows certain nongovernment organizations to acquire equipment and property that the Federal Government no longer needs. This legislation adds veteran-owned small businesses to the program's list of eligible recipients, which already includes minority-owned and women-owned small businesses. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Association of State Agencies for Surplus Property, and the American Legion support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close if the gentlewoman from New York is prepared as well after her remarks, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2679) to provide access to and manage the distribution of excess or surplus property to veteran-owned small businesses.