Gregory Murphy

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, as a North Carolinian and member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I take great joy today in rising to recognize United States astronaut Christina Koch. Christina grew up in eastern North Carolina in Jacksonville and graduated from the prestigious North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. She later earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from N.C. State. On December 28, 2019, Christina set the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a female. She surpassed the previous record of 288 days achieved by fellow astronaut Peggy Whitson. She is now at 300 days and counting. In addition, Christina participated in the first all-female space walk on October 18 alongside fellow astronaut Jessica Meir. She is, without a doubt, one of the most accomplished people in North Carolina's history. Christina has made her country, her State, and all of eastern North Carolina proud. I wish her luck on her continuous voyage amongst the stars. We look forward to her safe return to Earth in February.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to these baseless Articles of Impeachment and the unprecedented process that has been used in this effort to impeachment the duly elected President of the United States. It is a mockery of American justice. In 1788, one of our Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, wrote in the Federalist Papers: In many cases, impeachment will connect itself with the preexisting factions . . . and in such cases, there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparable strength of parties, majority and minority, than by real demonstrations of innocence or guilt. What does this mean? It means that the majority can exert its influence regardless of justice. In this statement, Hamilton warned us about the danger of mob rule. Democrats have a criminal and have been searching for a crime for 3 years, but this President has not committed a crime. As the leader of American foreign policy, the President has a constitutional obligation to root out corruption in countries to which we provide aid. This is not an abuse of power. It is his job. One of the articles is obstruction of Congress. The only thing that has been obstructed is this President's right to due process. I don't blame the President for refusing to fully participate in this guilty-until-proven circus. This is not how our Founding Fathers framed American justice. This is a tragic day in our Nation's history. We have individuals that hate this President more than they love this country. Our country needs prayer, and not this disruptive partisanship.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I rise tonight in opposition to H.R. 3. As a practicing surgeon for the last 30 years, I believe I give somewhat of a unique perspective on the unbearable high price of prescription drugs, an issue that all Americans can agree upon. I have seen patients and continue to see patients who simply cannot afford their medications. We all agree on this problem. Unfortunately, however, H.R. 3 is, while well intentioned, a poorly executed solution. Healthcare economics are unique, a fact that many here do not realize. Price controls do not work in healthcare. There is evidence to show that, in countries that implement price controls, only a fraction of medicines that come to market are actually available. I should know. I have worked across the globe. I have worked in places where I have tried to prescribe medications that I thought were best for patients, only to have government prevent me from doing so. In Australia, for example, only 36 percent of new drugs released between 2011 and 2018 were available. Canada and the United Kingdom hardly fared better with 46 and 59 percent. The American public does not deserve to be shortchanged. In my 30 years as a practicing surgeon, I have seen new drugs and treatments become available that 20, 10, and even 5 years ago patients could have only dreamed of. But curative therapies do not occur overnight. They occur by innovative and dedicated scientists who continue to be on the cutting edge of research and development. Yet it takes financial risks to develop these drugs. At present, less than 1 in 100 drugs that are being discovered actually ever come to market. H.R. 3 will gut companies with a 95 percent tax if they do not succumb to the government's strong-arm negotiation. As a urologist, I can personally attest to the leaps and bounds that have been made in drugs that treat advanced prostate cancer. In just the last 5 years, more progress has been made in metastatic prostate cancer than in the preceding 70 years. I can now talk to patients about outliving their cancers rather than succumbing to them. We can control drug costs. H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, is a much better path. We should cut the billions spent on direct-to- consumer advertising or the billions spent on pharmacy benefit managers. We need a surgical approach to cure this disease, not a heavy-handed hatchet job by an overreaching government. H.R. 19 leads to decreased costs while, at the same time, providing a pathway for the cures that so many patients desperately seek.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring awareness today to a challenge that most Americans face every day with the high cost of their prescribed medications. Since 2010, the practicing cost of drugs in the United States has risen by close to 10 percent per year. As a physician, I see patients who forgo their medications because they simply cannot afford them. In 1996, the United States' use of direct-to-consumer advertising began a skyrocketing climb such that, today, 8 out of the top 10 pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. spend more on advertising than they do on research, personnel, or manufacturing. In fact, we are only one of two countries in the world that allow this practice, and this is a major reason why we have the highest cost of medications in the world. As a physician, I am often put in the unenviable position of explaining to a patient why the drug they see on TV is not the right drug for them and why. Patients ask their doctor about this medication, only for them to receive entirely different advice from their physician who diagnoses their illness. Yes, I am an ardent supporter of free speech, yet I would ask the American public: Is it worth it to you to pay up to 25 percent more for your medications just to see them advertised on television? So rather than investing billions of dollars in advertising, pharmaceutical companies could be decreasing the cost of medications or using that money for cure research. I ask for bipartisan support of this measure.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Pastor Rodney Coles of Greenville, North Carolina. In the fall of 2007, Pastor Coles formed the Churches Outreach Network in Greenville, North Carolina. Its mission is to aid the community through feeding the hungry and furnishing resource assistance to those in need. Pastor Coles has tirelessly served the community through Churches Outreach Network by supporting the Healthy Living Alliance which collaborates with churches and ministries within the surrounding community to develop a healthy living program which aims to encourage individuals to develop a healthier lifestyle. Pastor Coles also supports the Joy Soup Kitchen which serves lunch to those in need. Further, his Outreach Network promotes and assists the Community Unity Network which brings resources to the community concerning health, food, community awareness, rental assistance, senior citizen programs, veteran assistance and educational assistance. Since his arrival he has been a shining star to the community in need. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring this incredible public servant, but more importantly, a wonderfully faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, and my personal friend Pastor Rodney Coles, Sr.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I proudly announced my first piece of legislation as a Member of Congress, H.R. 5037. Of course, every bill that goes through this great legislative body is important, but I think it is fair to say that every Member's first bill carries with it an importance in its own right. It marks the beginning of a new path forward, and I wanted mine to begin in remembrance of my predecessor, friend, and mentor, the late Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr. Congressman Jones served the great people of eastern North Carolina for over 20 years. He supported our military, he supported our farmers, and he supported our coasts. As his successor, I pledge to do the same. This bill, which would name a post office in the town Congressman Jones was born and raised, in the great town of Farmville, North Carolina, is the least that we can do to honor the remarkable statesman and steward that he was. In this time of great divisiveness, it is wonderful to have an issue that we all can rally around and support. I look forward to this bill becoming a reality for the people of eastern North Carolina.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ann and Vince Bellis of Greenville, North Carolina. In October of this year they were honored by the Friends of Greenville Greenways for their efforts to champion, create, and expand the family-friendly walking, running and biking space. They have given countless hours over several years to the fulfillment of this community-enhancing project. This couple have been honored for a lifetime of civic engagement, their incredible technical knowledge of the environment including a plethora of horticultural expertise and for unselfishly sharing that knowledge with the community. Many citizens of Greenville daily enjoy the Greenway and I applaud the work of the Bellis' in making what was once just an idea into a beautiful reality for the betterment of our city.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Bruce and Anna Biggs of Elizabeth City, North Carolina who received the first ever Albemarle Area United Way Keel Club Philanthropy Award. For half a century the Biggs' have been giving back to the community with their time, talent and treasure by donating to numerous organizations and causes in the region as well as funding three scholarships. Students at East Carolina University, the College of the Albemarle and MidAtlantic Christian University have all benefitted from the Biggs' generosity. Bruce Biggs had to borrow money to attend ECU for his bachelor's degree in business and being able to fund scholarships is especially meaningful to him. Anna Biggs is a retired school teacher. Bruce and Anna have sought to give to others in a community that has been so good to them.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Colonel Raymond Celeste, USMC (Ret.) who has completed twenty-nine Marine Corps Marathons here in Washington, D.C. and was recently inducted into the Marine Corps Marathon Hall of Fame. In addition to his 26 years of dedicated service to our country as a Marine, Ray has diligently served members of the military and veterans across the Third District of North Carolina since 2011, originally under Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr. and continuing on my current staff. Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking Ray for the work he has done and continues to do for the veterans in NC-03 as well as the service members stationed at Camp Lejeune, and Marine Corps Air Stations Cherry Point and New River. Semper-Fi.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Parker Overton of Grimesland, North Carolina. Mr. Overton was recently presented The Order of the Long Leaf Pine on October 22nd. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the highest award for state service granted by the Governor. It is presented to persons for exemplary service to the state of North Carolina and its communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina. Mr. Overton, who grew up on Greenville, is the founder of Overton's, the world's largest catalog of watersports and boating supplies from 1975 to 2003. He is chairman-elect of Greenville Utilities Corporation, chairman of the Board of Vidant Health Foundation, founding director and former board member of Metrics Pharmaceuticals, founding member of Select Bank and Trust Greenville and Select Bancorp, former president of the N.C. State Veterinary Foundation, member of the Advisory Board for the East Carolina University Chemistry Department and was instrumental in securing funding for the ECU School of Dental Medicine. Madam Speaker, please join me today in honoring this great citizen of the state of North Carolina.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 241 American service members who died in Beirut, Lebanon 36 years ago. The vast majority of the Marines and sailors who tragically lost their lives in the attack were from the 1st Battalion 8th Marines stationed at Camp Lejeune, which I have the honor of representing in the Third District of North Carolina. In addition, we keep the families who lost their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. Their immense sacrifices should never be overlooked. In remembering this anniversary today, we reaffirm out commitment to not only never forget these heroes, but also to ensure that they did not die in vain. The United States of America will never cower to evil and abandon our values. We will always stand against enemies of liberty and justice. Thank you to the members of our armed services, especially to the men and women who serve at Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Stations Cherry Point and New River, who help guarantee we do just that.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Chairman, it is an honor to serve beside Mr. Davis. Mr. Chairman, I rise today with my adamant opposition to H.R. 4617, otherwise known as the SHIELD Act. I think my Republican colleagues would agree that this bill is misleading at best and should be more effectively monikered as the First Amendment suppression act. Simply put, this bill is an extension of House Democrats' efforts to federalize the election process away from the States by substantially restricting free speech through governmental overreach. Furthermore, it does not actually do anything further to secure our elections from foreign interference. In the buildup to the 2016 election, Russian operatives broke many existing U.S. laws in their attempt to spread misinformation. Nothing in SHIELD would provide additional resources to law enforcement officials to pursue these foreign actors. Additionally, this bill will create a chilling effect on free speech by punishing organizations that have nothing to do with politics, and it mandates Federal overreach on a substantial scale. The SHIELD Act even gives the Federal Government the duty of determining what qualifies as a legitimate news source. To combat this recklessness, I actually offered a commonsense amendment that Democratic leadership would not consider for debate. It, simply enough, would have struck the word ``legitimate'' from the section because it is vague, overbroad, and open to subjective interpretation. Do we really want the Federal Government deciding on what is or is not a legitimate news outlet? Two minutes is not enough time to fully detail the unintended consequences of the SHIELD Act, which I intend to vote against later on today on the floor.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, today I rise in opposition to the unfair and unprecedented process that is being used by my colleagues across the aisle to smear the duly elected President of the United States and make a mockery of American justice. Since the day he was sworn in, Democrats have dismissed their duty as the majority party to lead this country. Instead, their agenda has revolved around their desire to oust the duly elected President. Since hearings with Robert Mueller, Joseph Maguire, and others did not yield their desired results, Democrats have changed their tactics. Those publicity stunts backfired. So what has been their response? Hold Soviet-style, closed-door, ``guilty until proven innocent'' investigations. President Trump deserves due process, and the American people deserve transparency and fairness; but, more importantly, Congress should be tending to the business of the people by passing substantive legislation instead of continuing to waste taxpayer time and money on yet another witch hunt.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I speak this morning on our Nation's security. Over 200-plus years ago, brave men and women literally sacrificed their lives to create a nation that was based upon freedom. That has now continued, and we have today a nation of laws. And now we have that nation of laws and the sanctity of that country threatened. If you look back on the last several Republican and Democratic Presidents of the United States who, right from that very seat, spoke about our border crisis, they spoke about what they needed to do to keep the sanctity of our borders, yet nothing was ever done. The American people have complained incessantly on how this Congress does not act. It is a stalemate. Now we have a President, bold as he is, who is finally acting on this crisis. We are literally overrun by folks from the southern border. Yes, there are drugs. I heard that was mentioned by the gentleman earlier. There are drugs that are coming in. But we also talk about human trafficking, that is, the trafficking of young men and women into this country into, essentially, slavery. We now want to open the borders up and have this country, what was previously a nation of laws, now become overrun and say that laws are no longer sanctified in this country. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a President who is bold, who has recognized what has not been recognized by previous Presidents, that we do have an emergency, that we do have the need for a physical structure to prevent a physical object from moving from point A to point B. We need a sanctified and a secure border, and I wish the Republicans and Democrats would get together and recognize that we do need this for our country and it is truly an emergency.

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina

Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank all the Members of the North Carolina delegation for making me feel so much at home. I thank all the Members for the warm welcome. Just a moment of thanks: I would like to thank my God for giving me the opportunity of life and the ability to experience all the great wonders that He has given us. I thank this country for the freedom it has given me as an individual and how much I can enjoy that freedom. I thank most of all, here in the room, my wonderful wife, Wendy, who has been with me side by side for all these elections. She followed me through medical school, through surgical residency, and through the maze of raising three wonderful children. I love her with all my heart. I thank her parents, Gary and Carol Simes, who have supported me all the way; my cousins, Frank Wood and Betsy Wood; and all the clan who have come from eastern North Carolina and even from Davidson College to support me. I thank the people of eastern North Carolina for bringing me here, and I thank, especially, one particular member of my campaign team, Lynda Blount, who could not be here tonight. She is with us in heart and spirit, and we love her very, very much. I also want to thank Congressman Walter Jones. Walter was a friend of mine, and he was a mentor. I know he was beloved by this institution, and I would not be here today without him. So, Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with each and every one of you and getting to know each and every one of you so that we can continue to make this the greatest nation on Earth. May God bless you all.