Paul Mitchell

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5925, introduced by the gentleman from South Carolina, Chairman Gowdy. The Coordinated Response through Interagency Strategy and Information Sharing, or CRISIS, Act is a bill to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control. This relatively small office plays an important role in coordinating the Nation's drug control efforts. The office has become increasingly important as we look to engage governmentwide initiatives to combat the opioid epidemic. Over the past 2 weeks, we have passed many good bills to help combat the opioid epidemic. Each will move us closer to ending the opioid crisis. This bill is a critical piece of the puzzle. It ensures Federal, State, and local governments work with each other and other nongovernmental entities to achieve the results we are seeking. Congress needs to provide the Office of National Drug Control the authorities it needs to lead the effort to combat the opioid crisis. The CRISIS Act does just that. The CRISIS Act updates and reaffirms the office's important role. That includes strengthening certain authorities to empower the office in the midst of this devastating epidemic. The opioid epidemic has impacted nearly every community across the Nation. One person dies about every 4 hours from an opioid overdose. One of the most important aspects of this bill is a comprehensive response plan. It is not enough to simply have a plan. We need action and follow-through to end the opioid crisis. The CRISIS Act requires measurable objectives so we know whether the programs we are funding are working. Accountability is at the heart of this bill. The CRISIS Act requires the Office of National Drug Control to develop a national strategy to be carried out by a wide array of agencies. It then requires the office to oversee and coordinate implementation of that strategy each year. It requires the office to measure whether the agencies are meeting the specific goals of that strategy. Our colleagues in the House and Senate are advancing a number of bills to address the opioid epidemic, and new initiatives are being announced daily. I offered an amendment in committee markup, with the support of Congressman Raskin, which brings in requirements from the CODE RED Act, sponsored by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus). The CODE RED Act and the amendment require a coordinated tracking system of the Federal funding to be put toward drug control efforts throughout the country. This system includes a central repository of grants related to substance abuse treatment, prevention, and enforcement, and to identify those which are duplicative. The government needs to know exactly what it is spending, where it is going, and if it is working. This is not the time to invest in ineffective strategies. We need to identify resources that work and apply Federal resources accordingly. I would like to thank my fellow committee members for accepting the amendment, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) for offering it with me, and, of course, Mr. Rothfus for all the work he has done in finding an effective approach to tackle the opioid crisis. There are many bills and proposals that seek to end the opioid crisis, but it will only be possible with commitment to a coordinated strategy and a unified approach. This bill, through the reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control, will provide the coordination, strategy, and unified approach we need. This is an important and timely bill. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Washington, DC, June 5, 2018. Hon. Edward Royce, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: On May 23, 2018, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ordered reported H.R. 5925, the ``Coordinated Response through Interagency Strategy and Information Sharing Act,'' with an amendment, by voice vote. The bill was referred primarily to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, with additional referrals to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, Intelligence, and Appropriations. I ask you allow the Committee on Foreign Affairs to be discharged from further consideration of the bill so it may be scheduled for floor consideration by the Majority Leader. This discharge in no way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Foreign Affairs represented on the conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter and any response in the bill report filed by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, as well as in the Congressional Record during floor consideration, to memorialize our understanding. Thank you for your consideration of my request. Sincerely, Trey Gowdy.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the support of my colleague for this bipartisan effort to address the opioid crisis in this country. I also appreciate his emphasis on effectively and efficiently addressing that crisis. I will note that in the last appropriation cycle, we increased funding for opioid treatment by almost $4 billion in this year alone. There is much work to be done; it is a crisis; and we will work together to address that crisis. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), the cosponsor of the bill.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the support of my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) for this bipartisan effort. I certainly hope the American people have the opportunity to see this effort as we address this crisis on a bipartisan basis. Far too frequently, they see conflict and disagreement put forth by media and other sources, but there is a great deal we work together on, and I think we need to stress that as we talk to people about this crisis. Mr. Speaker, in a moment, I will yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus), but first let me give him credit, because he is the sponsor of legislation on which my amendment was based, H.R. 5980, the CODE RED Act. The CODE RED Act, like the amendment I offered with Mr. Raskin in committee, requires a coordinated tracking system of Federal funding put towards drug control efforts throughout our country. It is a smart idea, especially given the opioid epidemic in our Nation and the costs of it, and I strongly supported it. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to make the gentleman from Maryland aware that I have no further speakers and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's support of the bill. In my brief time here, a year and a half, it has become abundantly clear to me that rarely do we get to dust off our hands and say we are done around here. It has also become clear to me that the debate of the bill rarely stays on the topic of the bill or solely on the topic of the bill. You see, the ACA, the Affordable Care Act, is not the sole approach to addressing healthcare issues in this country, preexisting conditions, or the preexisting conditions that are affected by drug abuse. I believe when we passed the American Health Care Act in this House, that that addressed preexisting conditions, treatment for substance abuse, and, using the words of my colleague, did so more effectively and efficiently than the Affordable Care Act does now. We clearly disagree on that. I respect that, and will continue to work on it. Today, we are dealing with this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill, because I believe that H.R. 5925 is an important step not only in reauthorizing the Office of National Drug Control, but also in providing additional resources to do so. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of the amendment of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis). We worked hard on this amendment. It is the result of hard work and agreements between all interested parties, Governors across the Great Lakes, and Members of Congress throughout the Great Lakes basin. The Brandon Road Lock and Dam is a lock and dam complex on the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Illinois. It is one of the last stops along the waterway before Lake Michigan and the entire Great Lakes system. Unfortunately, Asian carp exists in that waterway as well. This invasive species getting into the Great Lakes would do unfathomable damage to our economy and ecology not just in my State, but to the entire Great Lakes basin. We must stop the spread of Asian carp, and the Brandon Road Lock and Dam offers the best and last chance to do so. I appreciate the assistance of my good friend from Illinois and the Governor of Illinois for recognizing the problem. Stakeholders and members on this waterway leading to the Great Lakes use it for commerce. Those on the Great Lakes basin prioritize its use to stop Asian carp. It is vital to understand that, and all sides must know and agree we have to achieve both objectives sooner than later. This is a complex problem. That is why we have asked the Army Corps of Engineers to release their study as soon as possible. This study will advise Congress and the American people about what options we have, what effects they could have, and how effective preventive measures could be. Like many things in government, this project has seen delays. The report has seen delays. Time is our enemy here and we cannot have the final report delayed any longer. My section of the Davis-Mitchell amendment adds the Brandon Road Study to the list of expedited studies. By ensuring timely completion, we can move forward on whatever is recommended in order to achieve two things: effective commerce on the river, while ensuring Asian carp do not invade the Great Lakes. I support the amendment, I ask my colleagues to do so, and I want to express my appreciation to Mr. Davis for all the hard work he has put into resolving what has been an issue for a long time here in Congress. Together, we have come up with a good amendment.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am pleased to have the opportunity to join the House Armed Services Committee in time to participate in the review and markup of the fiscal year 2019 national defense authorization bill. I am pleased to participate in the investments this bill makes in our national defense. I would agree with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: They are not a cheap date. In fact, some of the amendments that my colleague mentioned were debated in committee and were defeated in committee. Apparently, we want to go through them multiple times; and unless they get everything they want, somehow they are going to protest. At some point in time, the process is what it is. The amendment is lost. I am pleased to participate in investments in defense, and in particular, the Stryker combat vehicle, a program that has a tremendous impact on combat readiness and capability of our Army. The Stryker brigade combat teams are some of the most frequently deployed units in the Army, and it exponentially increases the protection and lethality of our Nation's soldiers. The most modern version of the vehicle, the Stryker A1, includes a double-v hull that has already proven to protect soldiers from the most violent IED and mine blasts, as well as other upgrades to improve their mobility and communication capabilities. I am pleased with the House Armed Services Committee for seeing the wisdom of authorizing a total $360 million for the Stryker upgrades this fiscal year. That effort supports Army Chief of Staff General Milley's plan to provide Stryker A1s to all brigade combat teams by 2025. I look forward to working with the chairman and over 250 Members of my House colleagues--across the aisle, by the way--who join me in a letter supporting the Stryker program and its continued efforts of development. Our soldiers who so often are deployed in harm's way deserve every protection they can get, and we should provide that for them. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter to the Secretary of the Army, Mark Esper. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, April 12, 2018. Dear Secretary Esper: Thank you for your service to our nation and your robust efforts to increase the readiness and modernization budget of the U.S. Army. While you may have just begun, you are making remarkable progress on behalf of the American soldier and our national security. However, we would like to bring to your attention the continued budgetary challenges of the Stryker combat vehicle program. The Stryker vehicle is the Army's most deployed and versatile combat vehicle and represents what may be the most successful Army acquisition program in recent memory from initial acquisition to the most recent upgrades. Yet there appears to be a disconnect between these facts and the Army's FY19 budget request which once again neglects much needed Stryker procurement and modernization. In recent years, Congress has stepped in and ensured that the Army's lack of budgetary commitment to Stryker did not prevent our soldiers in the field from receiving the safety and lethality upgrades necessary against the threats of today's global environment. Congress has strongly supported both the conversion of flat bottomed Strykers to the more survivable Double-V Hull (DVH) Stryker A1 version and the Stryker lethality (ICV) upgrade which adds a powerful 30mm cannon to the Stryker infantry variant. While we are pleased that the Army's FY 19 modernization budget was increased by more than 14% from FY 18, we are perplexed why the Stryker program did not seem to benefit from this growth in investment funding, especially since it is our understanding that the Army has an operational requirement for additional brigades of improved Stryker (DVH) A1s. How can the Stryker fleet represent 30% of Army combat vehicles yet receive just 6% of the Army's combat vehicle budget in FY 19? Congress has continually demonstrated our long-standing support for Stryker production and we request that you do the same by working with us in the FY19 defense budget process to develop a plan to sustain the Stryker program. Sincerely, Mike Rogers, David P. Joyce, Marcy Kaptur, Sander M. Levin, Richard Hudson, Paul Mitchell, Debbie Dingell, Lou Barletta, Tom Graves, Vern Buchanan, Andre Carson, Collin C. Peterson, Pete Sessions, Harry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., Peter Roskam, Patrick Meehan, Walter Jones, Stephen Palazzo, Bill Shuster, Tom Marino, Joyce Beatty, Alan Lowenthal, Bradley Byrne, Mimi Walters, Robert Pittenger, Robert B. Aderholt, Eric Swalwell, Will Hurd, James B. Renacci, Gary Palmer. Michael T. McCaul, Jim Jordan, Charles W. Dent, David E. Price, Brian Mast, Henry Cuellar, Vicki Hartzler, Adam Kinzinger, Scott DesJarlais, Don Young, Emanuel Cleaver, II, Rob Wittman, Gerald E. Connolly, Patrick McHenry, Bruce Westerman, Glenn ``GT'' Thompson, Ted Budd, Josh Gottheimer, Barbara Comstock, Ted W. Lieu, Elise M. Stefanik, A. Donald McEachin, Peter T. King, Martha Roby. Robert A. Brady, Paul Gosar, Mike Simpson, John Carter, Terri Sewell, Bill Huizenga, David B. McKinley, PE, Betty McCollum, Peter Welch, Sean P. Duffy, Marcia Fudge, Leonard Lance, Thomas J. Rooney, Ann McLane Kuster, Tom O'Halloran, Francis Rooney, John R. Moolenaar, Alma S. Adams, John H. Rutherford, Michael Doyle, Jody Hice, Ryan A. Costello, Charlie Crist, Denny Heck. Mark E. Amodei, Ann Wagner, Rick W. Allen, Ralph Abraham, MD, Ted S. Yoho, DVM, Tom MacArthur, (duplicate signature), Mike Gallagher, Steve Stivers, Sean Patrick Maloney, Kevin Brady, George Holding, Scott Peters, Sam Graves, Keith J. Rothfus, Paul Cook, Nanette Diaz Barragan, Darin LaHood, Doug Collins, Don Bacon, Carol Shea-Porter, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Juan Vargas, Norma J. Torres, Kyrsten Sinema, David G. Valadao, Rodney Davis, Dwight Evans, Jim Langevin, Ken Calvert, Chellie Pingree. Earl L. ``Buddy'' Carter, Michael D. Bishop, Colleen Hanabusa, Tom Garrett, Brian Fitzpatrick, Martha McSally, Warren Davidson, Devin Nunes, Steve Knight, Matthew Cartwright, Cheri Bustos, Chris Collins, Tim Ryan, Scott Perry, Karen C. Handel, French Hill, Carlos Curbelo, Joe Wilson, Anthony G. Brown, Derek Kilmer, Grace F. Napolitano, John Faso, Andy Biggs, Trent Kelly, Mark Walker, Marc Veasey, Jim Himes, James P. McGovern, G.K. Butterfield, Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, Virginia Foxx. David Rouzer, Cedric L. Richmond, Jackie Walorski, Jim Banks, Lloyd Smucker, Matt Gaetz, Larry Bucshon, MD, Julia Brownley, Mark Meadows, A. Drew Ferguson, IV, DMD, Jamie Herrera Beutler, Donald Beyer, Brendan F. Boyle, Brenda L. Lawrence, Ruben Gallego, Grace Meng, Seth Moulton, Mike Bost, Kathleen M. Rice, Dave Loebsack, Evan H. Jenkins, John M. Katko, Bill Johnson, Dave Trott, Donald Norcross, Michael Capuano, Pete Aguilar, Barry Loudermilk, John Culbertson, Fred Upton, H. Morgan Griffith. Mario Diaz-Balart, Jack Bergman, Pramila Jayapal, Richard E. Neal, David Scott, Chris Stewart, John K. Delaney, Darren Soto, Al Lawson, Bruce Poliquin, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Gregory W. Meeks, Alcee L. Hastings, Steve Chabot, Kenny Marchant, Sanford Bishop, Austin Scott, Frank LoBiondo, Duncan Hunter, John Garamendi, Suzan K. DelBene, Bob Gibbs, Bill Long, Tom Cole, Chuck Fleischmann, Rick Crawford, Pete Olson, Susan W. Brooks. Dennis Ross, Scott Taylor, Mike Johnson, Salud Carbajal, Dan Kildee, Rob Woodall, Mark Pocon, Tulsi Gabbard, Roger Williams, Stephanie Murphy, Dave Reichert, Jeff Duncan, Christopher H. Smith, Bill Pascrell, Jr., Sam Johnson, Steve Womack, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Kurt Schrader, Tim Walberg, Todd Rokita, Robert E. Latta, Mike Coffman, Mike Quigley, Mo Brooks, Kevin Yoder, Tom Rice, Rick Larsen. Neal Dunn, MD, Tom Emmer, Stacey Plaskett, Tom Suozzi, Erik Paulsen, Mike Kelly, Andy Barr, Zoe Lofgren, Dan Newhouse, Bobby Scott, Jeff Fortenberry, Daniel Lipinski, Adam B. Schiff, Bob Goodlatte, Ed Royce, Hal Rogers, Brad Wenstrup, K. Michael Conaway, Tom Reed, Bill Flores, Ted Deutch, Ron Estes, Paul Tonko, Doug Lamborn, Randy Hultgren, Albio Sires, David Schweikert.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 224. Amendment No. 13 Offered by Mr. McKinley

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to file a supplemental report on the bill, H.R. 5515.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize recently named Macomb County Volunteer of the Year, eighth-grader Dylan Rheker. Dylan, age 14, volunteers at the Village of East Harbor senior living facility, at Francis A. Higgins Elementary School, at the Anna Mae Burdi Early Childhood Center, as well as Selfridge Air National Guard Base and the Roseville Community Schools. However, what is also impressive, in addition to Dylan's giving spirit, is his perseverance. You see, Dylan was born with neurofibromatosis, a condition which causes tumors to form in his brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Dylan was also diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy for the past 4 years. None of this deters the straight-A student as he helps people across the 10th Congressional District. In fact, Dylan recently set a school volunteer hour record, with 236 hours of volunteer service last year. When asked about his volunteerism, Dylan responds that he is ``happy to help'' and ``always here if someone needs help.'' Dylan is an outstanding young man, and I am extremely proud of all the work he does in our district to make the community a better place to live and work. I wish him the best of luck in the future, and I hope all of you will as well. Recognizing Carla Villalvazo as Winner of 2018 Congressional Art Competition

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Carla Villalvazo, a high school student from Eisenhower High School in Shelby Township, Michigan. Carla is the winner of the 2018 Congressional Art Competition for my district. Her artwork titled ``Forget Me Not'' is a watercolor painting which will hang in the Cannon tunnel of the Capitol for the next year. Importantly, it is not only wonderful artwork, it talks about the struggle the family has with a family member with Alzheimer's. It is great artwork, but it also touches my heart and, I think, many others. I also recognize second-place finisher Stefanie Frontera, also from Eisenhower High School, and third-place finisher Christina Berels from Cardinal Mooney High School. These students all submitted wonderful pieces of art. The second- and third-place winners will hang in my office. I thank them all for their submission.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Chairman, as you may guess, I am a big fan of a good candy bar. In 1983, a candy bar cost 35 cents and had a cost of about 2 cents worth of sugar. Thirty-five years later, I am still a fan of candy bars. In 2018, that same candy bar costs $1.49--they are a little slimmer--and the cost of sugar is still 2 cents. United States retail sugar costs are the lowest in the world: 59 cents a pound compared to 71 cents on the open market. The sugar program cost the taxpayers zero in the last 16 years. Rather than message about alleged conservative amendments, let's focus on addressing meaningful changes. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the amendment.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, today, May 7, is my wife's birthday. It may seem like a small thing to many, but it is hard to describe the sacrifice and commitment that it takes to be the spouse of someone who serves in government--the additional things she takes on when Dad is not home, the fun and games when the school calls, or the text message you get: Where did you leave whatever? I need to find it. So, today, I want to briefly say to my spouse, to Sherry: Thank you very much for understanding my need to serve and joining me in that effort in serving in the House. Happy birthday, and I will see you at the end of the week.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak in support of this En Bloc amendment package, which contains two of my amendments to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. It is no secret our Air Traffic Control system is antiquated. It relies on old technology and old techniques. It is a safe system, but it is ineffective and could be significantly improved. Despite billions and billions of taxpayer dollars spent over the past 30 years to make it better, the system still largely relies on World War II era radar technology. The Government Accountability Office and the Department of Transportation Inspector General have both said the FAA lags massively behind in bringing Air Traffic Control into the 21st Century. NextGen-- the common name for these modernization efforts--has cost well over seven billion dollars already with no implementation date--still. We all know the promise that Air Traffic Control modernization holds, but we also know NextGen has taken too long and cost too much money to fully implement. My amendments today will help expedite full NextGen deployment and get taxpayers the return on investment they deserve and expect. My first amendment to H.R. 4 would establish a pilot program to demonstrate the full promise of NextGen technologies. This pilot program could also show policy makers and the Federal Aviation Administration where we still have room for improvement in NextGen. There are some airports and some planes that have begun to use the newest technologies. After this many years and this many dollars spent, it certainly makes sense that would be the case. My amendment today would create a limited pilot program, with a sunset date and a reporting requirement, for planes and airports with the latest NextGen technologies. This pilot program would allow for limited enhanced access for planes with the latest technology, at a limited number of airports. The parameters for the pilot program would be developed by the Federal Aviation Administration after consultations with aircraft operators, manufacturers, and airport sponsors. Here's what we can find out with such a program: How good can a fully implemented NextGen be? How will pilots and airports utilize the system? Where are areas that need more attention? How much more investment is necessary, and what will be the return on that investment? These are all questions that make sense to ask, and have been asked. This amendment and this pilot program takes those questions and creates an opportunity that will show policy makers and the public real-world and tangible--and measurable--results. To recap, my first amendment creates a limited pilot program to demonstrate what a fully implemented NextGen system could look like. It has an end date, so it's not an open-ended program. It requires the FAA to report to Congress once the pilot program is ended. After reviewing the results, policy makers and the FAA would have greater knowledge about how best to finish NextGen implementation, and how to run a fully modernized Air Traffic Control system. My second amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, paired with the first one, will further ensure Air Traffic Control modernization stays on track. Today's Manager's Amendment from Chairman Shuster requires the FAA to tell Congress and the public how much time, effort, and money has gone in to NextGen to date, and what the returns on that investment are so far. It also requires the DOT IG to examine that report from the FAA for accuracy and completeness. My second amendment today builds upon these accountability measures put forward by Chairman Shuster. My amendment requires the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation to study the potential impacts of a significantly delayed, significantly diminished, or completely failed delivery of the NextGen modernization initiative. My amendment is forward looking, and helps hold the FAA accountable to taxpayers. This examination by the IG would ask some very straightforward but very important questions. Questions like what are the potential impacts on the operational efficiency of our aviation system without NextGen; how would a failed NextGen delivery impact our international competiveness; what would be the impact on the flying public; what would be the overall economic impact; how would it effect stakeholder use of the system; and more. These are all questions that we need answers for. By having this information, Congress and the American people will know how much is at stake and where we need to make adjustments. NextGen is an opportunity, but if that opportunity isn't fully realized, investments to date will be for naught, and all the benefits of a fully modernized Air Traffic Control system will not be realized. Failure is not an option, and Congress needs to do everything in our power to keep the FAA on track. In sum, my amendment makes the DOT IG do a deep dive into the worst case scenarios for NextGen implementation. By having these answers, Congress and the taxpayers will have a full picture of the need to expedite Air Traffic Control modernization, and what more needs to be done to get our aviation system in to the 21st Century. I am pleased both of my amendments are included in the En Bloc package, because I believe they will expedite NextGen deployment and will help modernize our Air Traffic Control systems.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, my home State of Michigan requires a balanced annual budget. We actually have a rainy day fund. A rainy day fund will ensure when tax revenues fall because of the economy, we can pay our costs to run the government. Every household needs to balance its budget and live within its means. Imagine that. A novel concept. This Federal Government should do the same thing. Mr. Speaker, the current U.S. national debt has topped $21 trillion. We could make a big stack of that here. I am not sure we could count that high or have the time to do it today. We are coming to the edge of a fiscal crisis, unless we take aggressive steps to rein in our debt, our spending. I spent 35 years in business. I full well know that in order to be successful, you can't just spend whatever you think you need and hope it all works out. I have heard colleagues on the other side of the aisle say, ``What? We brought this to the floor without hearings?'' We need to have hearings about not spending more than we have? I can't imagine that. Think about that. We talk about if we actually reduce our spending, we are going to pillage programs? On the other side of the aisle, they talk about just increase taxes. I went to the school of economics and public policy. The reality is, look at what has happened in Greece and other countries. You can't, by raising taxes, simply think you are going to get more revenue. In fact, it goes someplace else frequently. The answer is not spend yourself into oblivion and hope to raise taxes. That is why I stand here today in full support of H.J. Res. 2, the balanced budget amendment. I cosponsored it, I support it. It brings needed financial discipline to this Congress, because it is abundantly clear to me in 16 months here, we are unable to control our spending unless someone puts the reins on us, puts us, frankly, in handcuffs, because we find a way to spend more money than we ever hope to have. It is time to stop. We owe it to the American people, we owe it to our children and grandchildren; otherwise, frankly, we are going to shackle them to debt for their entire lives.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4921) to require the Surface Board of Transportation to implement certain recommendations of the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, as amended.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4921, as amended.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the STB Information Security Improvement Act requires the Surface Transportation Board to develop a timeline and plan to implement the recommendations and improvements outlined in its information security system. After a concerning report from the Department of Transportation inspector general that outlined deficiencies in the STB's information security system, it is imperative that changes be made and there are improvements in that system rapidly. When the STB separated from DOT, Department of Transportation, in December 2015, the agency gained full responsibility and control of its IT system, and it currently lacks any meaningful or strong cybersecurity system. The improvements needed include basic building blocks, such as changes to policies and procedures. The STB is encumbered by a number of weaknesses, and its information security program has been determined by the OIG to be at a low level of maturity according to OMB standards. A summary of the bill is it requires the STB, the Surface Transportation Board, to create a timeline and plan to implement recommendations made by the DOT Office of Inspector General in their report. Additionally, it requires the Surface Transportation Board to annually update Congress on its progress until it has effectively been completed and updated. This bill ensures that the Surface Transportation Board addresses these deficiencies so the agency can reduce the risk of an attack or compromise to this critical information system. I believe this bill will improve the Surface Transportation Board's information security and is a good piece of legislation and oversight. I again thank Chairman Shuster, Chairman Denham, and Mr. Gottheimer for working with me on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the bipartisan nature of the bill. My colleague supported the bill, and Mr. Gottheimer is a cosponsor. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4925) to require the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration to implement certain recommendations for management and collection of railroad safety data.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4925.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the FRA Safety Data Improvement Act requires the Federal Railroad Administration to develop a timeline and plan to implement improvements to its safety data collection and reporting system. Rail safety is critical to our Nation, and in order to ensure that regulations are rooted in accurate data, the FRA must make improvements to its data collection system. Safety data is important to railroad safety, and failures of that concern us. Effective safety data collection and reporting is critical to ensuring railroad safety. The Department of Transportation inspector general published a report outlining issues with the data collection and reporting for safety data. The report made a number of recommendations to standardizing certain procedures and implementing effective and uniform training programs. Additionally, the report recommends the FRA update its reporting guidance to clear up discrepancies in their reporting forms. In summary, the bill requires the FRA, the Federal Railroad Administration, to implement the recommendations from the DOT Office of Inspector General report. Additionally, it requires the FRA to develop a timeline and plan to implement the guidelines and recommendations. The bill ensures the FRA addresses these discrepancies by a report requiring FRA to annually update Congress on its progress until completion. I believe this bill will improve the safety of our railways. Rail safety is obviously critical to our Nation and our infrastructure; and to ensure that safety regulations are effective and clear, they must be updated. I again thank Chairman Shuster, Chairman Denham, and Mr. Gottheimer for working with me, as well as my colleague, Mr. Capuano. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, this bill and the previous one we discussed reflect the bipartisan commitment to our Nation's infrastructure and to a safe infrastructure. I appreciate my colleagues' support in working jointly in bringing these bills forward. I urge my colleagues to join all of us in supporting this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MITCHELL

Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from West Point, Georgia, and I want to also thank the Georgia and Alabama delegations' Members who, as part of the Tax Truth Squad, have come here tonight to share examples of the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on their districts. The last major tax reform was conducted 31 years ago. I believe many people, many businesspeople and workers, had simply given up on the idea that we would actually achieve what we achieved at the end of last year. In less than three months since the tax reform bill passed, as my colleague said, more than 440 companies have given a pay raise, bonuses, increased 401(k) contributions, or, in the case of utility companies, lowered their rates dramatically. In Michigan, rates will be lowered this year by $400 million. This number of 440 doesn't even include small mom-and-pop businesses on Main Street. At least 4 million Americans are receiving special tax reform bonuses, announced already this year, in 3 months. The direct bonus announcements have already passed $4 billion. Small-business owners are showing unparalleled confidence in the economy as the optimism index reached record high numbers in February according to the NFIB Small Business Economic Trend Survey. Let me say that again: record high numbers, all as a result of what we achieved at the end of the year. This optimism in economic strength is reflected in data recently released. Last month, the United States economy created 313,000 new jobs. More importantly, 800 million people reentered the labor force who weren't trying to go to work. The unemployment rate remained the same at 4.1 percent, what most people call full employment. Equally important, wage growth over last year increased 2.6 percent; 2.6 percent already in terms of wage growth. These are good things for Americans, for wage earners; and, as my colleague said, even more importantly, a good thing because they keep money in the pockets of workers and families to make decisions on what to do with their hard-earned money rather than depend on those of us here, frankly, in Congress or, worse, bureaucrats, to spend it for them. Mr. Speaker, I thank all the Members of Georgia and Alabama as part of the Tax Truth Squad to put their stories forward tonight.