Pete Olson

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Missouri for yielding, as I want to share my thoughts on this purely political effort by the new Democratic majority. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. and Mexico border is 2,400 miles long. My home State of Texas is half that border, 1,200 miles. Texas knows something others in this Chamber apparently don't know: We are at war on the southern border with the drug cartels. I say it again. We are at war on the southern border with the drug cartels from Mexico. The drug cartels are at the heart of every single problem we have on our southern border. They have a war going with our families, our kids, and our schools with record numbers of heroin, cocaine, and deadly fentanyl. The drug cartels are at war with our world values by financing modern-day sex slaves or forced laborers. All of Texas, 254 counties--from Amarillo to Texarkana, to Beaumont, to Brownsville, to Marfa--are impacted. They are at war with these drug cartels. The majority had better wake up and have no more figments of imagination. It is time to put politics aside and admit we are at war with the drug cartels. Mr. Speaker, let's fight this war to win and vote against the resolution that surrenders to the drug cartels.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, there is a force of nature that all Texans know: Texans from Sweden. I am one. But the most powerful one is a 17- year-old Cinco Ranch Cougar. Her name is Jennifer Lindgren. As you can see, Jennifer was born without a left hand. Not a problem. Jennifer says: ``Most of the time, I forget that I have one hand. I have always just done pretty much what everybody else has done.'' Jennifer, you are wrong. You have done more than anyone else ever could do. Jennifer is the president of the Cinco Ranch FFA. Her sheep, Lou, won third place at the recent FFA livestock show. Jennifer, you are awesome. As you go off to the great Aggie school, Texas A&M University, you must change a little bit. You have to say ``howdy,'' ``gig em,'' and ``whoop'' a lot.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Missouri for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, in 2012, Ashley and Toribio Cardenas got the best news parents can hear: they are going to have a baby girl. They got an ultrasound at 16 weeks. They saw the outlines of their new daughter, Audrina. She was gorgeous. They had pure joy. Right after they left, the sonographer rushes to call the obstetrician. This little gift from God has ectopia cordis. Her heart is outside of her body. Sixteen human beings out of 1 million have this condition, and it is usually fatal. The doctors tell Ashley she has two choices: either abort Audrina or keep going and pray for the best. Ashley had to act quickly, because Texas law prohibited abortion after 20 weeks. This happened at 17 weeks. She felt Audrina in her womb kicking and thriving, and she thought: ``Who wants to take a life away? Who wants to stop a beating heart?'' That is true love. Audrina was born alive. Ashley saw her, gave her a kiss, and then she was rushed off to the cardiac intensive care room for babies, the ICU. Little Audrina had surgery the very next day. Here is a picture of her I printed out in the hospital; that beautiful young girl, her heart behind that plate. Her first year of life, there are wires everywhere. She was on oxygen and had to eat through a feeding tube. But here that beautiful girl is today with a sign that says: ``#speaknowforkids.'' This is a sign for Audrina and for every kid facing abortion. Congress, American people, speak now for the kids. Support the bill, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Don't kill babies.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, back home in Texas 22, a new source of economic growth is exploding in Sienna Plantation and Missouri City. This force of prosperity is the Sauce Boss. The Sauce Boss is a walking, talking, sauce-making American Dream. Her name is Tyla-Simone Crayton. Tyla is 15 years young, a sophomore Panther at Ridge Point High School. Tyla started Sienna Wings because Tyla just loves eating. One sauce has now become three: Tangy, Spicy, and Lemon Pepper. Tyla has just one employee, her mom, Monique. She also has 22 distributors and a box packer who is packing more boxes now than they have packed before. Tyla, Monique, Panther Nation, and all of Texas 22 have a common dream: We can't wait until Sienna Wings are on the shelves of HEB. And that's just the way it is.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Christian Banziger of Sugar Land, TX for earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout is the highest honor a Boy Scout can earn. Only a small percentage of Boy Scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout. This honor requires years of effort to develop the necessary leadership, service and outdoor skills. To earn it, Christian developed and provided leadership to others in a service project. For his project, Christian built a table and benches for the Arya Samaj Greater Houston and Vedic Culture Center. His dedication to our community has prepared him to be a leader in his future career. The leadership skills he has learned through Boy Scouts are already benefiting our community, just as the contributions of Boy Scouts continue to benefit our communities in countless ways. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Christian Banziger for becoming an Eagle Scout. We are proud of his continued success and thank him for his dedication to making our community a better place.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Mayor Allen Owen and his almost 40 years of faithful service to a great city in Texas- 22, Missouri City. Allen served as the mayor for the better part of 20 years. He always led in a crisis, like the recovery from Hurricane Harvey, one Memorial Day flood, and two tax day floods. He even cut the locks at a gas station to give fuel to first responders during those floods. Allen and his wife of 51 years, Jane, have raised three amazing kids in Missouri City. I will close with praise from a Texas icon, the great Texas philosopher and the coach of the Houston Oilers, Bum Phillips: Allen Owen may not be in a class by himself, but whatever class he is in, it don't take long to call the roll. Thank you, Al and Jane. May you always have fair winds and following seas.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. ``The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them. ``Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--'I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.''' Section 2: ``The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.''

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, 10 years and 17 days ago, I was given the honor of working for the people of Texas 22 in Washington, D.C. They are my bosses. And one of my bosses was born on January 30 of 1918. His name is Al Towns. Al was alive during World War I. Al fought in World War II. He started as a lowly private. Twenty-two years later, he retired as an O- 6, a full bird colonel. Al then joined NASA and helped us go to the Moon in 1969. At Al's 101st birthday party next week, I am sure he will share pearls of wisdom, like: ``If you want to get something done, give it to a woman. She may step on some toes, but she will get it done.'' Or, the key to living to 101 years old: ``Don't think too far ahead.'' Mr. Speaker, Texas 22 says to Al, ``Roger that. Wilco. Happy birthday.'' And that is just the way it is.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, the world knows no one takes better care of their friends than Texans. The whole world knows my hometown of Sugar Land is the best of the best. The world saw this in global stories about Hurricane Harvey, but the world misses so many stories. There was a Fort Bend Star article about an eight-alarm fire that destroyed eight apartments weeks before Christmas. The world needs to know about Nazila, Isabella, Blanca, Ann, and Troy. That fire burned all they owned, except two cellos Ann uses to teach kids music at Austin High School. As the world can see, Ann and her loved ones have a fully furnished apartment, courtesy of BEL Furniture in Sugar Land, Texas. Sugar Land is the best of the best--the best in America, the best in the world. And that is just the way it is.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to return to Washington from my district in Texas due to a family obligation on the evening of December 19. Had I been present, I would have voted: yea on Roll Call No. 436; yea on Roll Call No. 437; yea on Roll Call No. 438; yea on Roll Call No. 439; and yea on Roll Call No. 440.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to return to Washington from my district in Texas due to a family obligation on the evening of December 19. Had I been present, I would have voted: yea on Roll Call No. 441; yea on Roll Call No. 442; yea on Roll Call No. 443; yea on Roll Call No. 444; and yea on Roll Call No. 445.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to return to Washington from my district in Texas due to a family obligation on the morning of December 20. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 446 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 447.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas 25 for setting up this Special Order for a great American, George Herbert Walker Bush, back home known as Bush 41. There are many words which describe his life: statesman, dignified, hero, father, husband, devoted leader, and human being. My wife, Nancy, and I met him twice in very relaxed settings in Houston, Texas. We loved how funny he was. He loved to make people laugh. He and I talked about being former naval aviators and running back home in Houston for Congress. Both of us had a big problem with our first campaign: We weren't born in Texas; we weren't native Texans. Some called us carpetbaggers. President Bush had the best reply I have ever heard. To paraphrase, he said: It is true, my friend, I wasn't born in Texas. But on my birthday, it was very important that I was with my mother; and, sadly, my mom was not in Texas on June 12 of 1924. I wish I had the wisdom of that line when I ran in 2008. He loved having fun with his soul mate, Barbara Bush. He was married for 73 years, and she was the first woman he ever kissed. And check out this photo. That is President Carter and Rosalynn; President Ford and Betty; Lady Bird Johnson; and President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush. Guess who has rabbit ears? Our First Lady, Barbara Bush. George Bush never let the job take over his humanity. Mr. Speaker, I have a final story about President Bush having fun with the same photographer back in Houston. He has been with the Bush family for about 40 years. As President Bush's health faded, he went there one fall to take some pictures for Christmas. I asked my friend: How is the President doing? He said: He is doing fine. His brain is great, but he can't walk anymore. He is wheelchair bound, and we take a photo every year with the First Lady after they come back home from Kennebunkport for photos for Christmas and for the entire year. Those shoots have become very, very tough. I can't stand him up. He has to sit down in his wheelchair. He was 6 foot 2, 6 foot 3. Barbara was probably 5 foot 7. He towered over her in real life. In the wheelchair, she towered over him. So how do you fix that? He said: I worked the First Lady out hard. I made her squat down, get on her knees so she is below him as they have been their whole life. And then to try to hide that wheelchair from the photos, I put her up to the left down low, to the right down low, behind to the right down low, behind to left down low--moved her all over. Then he started laughing and said: What made their love so special, so dear, is that both, at 90 years old, as our First Lady walked in front of the President, about 10 times she stopped and said, ``George, stop that. Stop that.'' Our President was pinching her behind out of love. There is good news today for the Bush family. President Bush and Barbara are walking hand in hand with their daughter, Robin, in Heaven right now. Mr. Speaker, I will close by saying the last four words President Bush said when he was with us. He said these words to our President George W. Bush, so-called Bush 43. He said, ``I love you, too.'' He said that to George W., but we all know he said that to every American, every person in this world. This man loved life. He loved America. He loved humanity. He was a great man. Rest well in Heaven, and have fair winds and following seas.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, 2017 was an amazing year for the Needville High School Blue Jays. The Lady Jays won the Texas State 4A championship. They lost over one-half of their team in 2018. The naysayers said there was no way the Needville Blue Jays will play for the State title in 2018. The naysayers never talked to Rockie, Evan, Meghan, Treasure, Samantha, Anna, Baley, Madison, Samia, Maddy, Kaitlyn, Tori, or Coach Amy Schultz. The Lady Jays knew they would play the State finals in 2018, and they did just that. Last week, their season ended with a record of 41-9 and the Texas 4A State runner-up. The Lady Jays were a true team. They put their heart and soul on the line for their hometown of Needville. It is a town we all love. Needville is proud of our girls. We will see the naysayers next year at the 2019 State championships.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, all Texans know that our stars are big and bright at night. But lately, 16 stars have been the biggest and brightest ever seen in Fort Bend County. Here they are. These stars' names are Alana, Britney, Karly, Taylor, Tiana, Randee, Skylar, Charlie, Claire, Reagan, Baleigh, Nia, Tyler, Lindsey, Kendall, and Peyton. They revolve around a star called Coach Lori McLaughlin. They are the 2018 Ridge Point Panthers volleyball team. We are so proud they are State runners-up in volleyball in Texas: 47- 6 was their record, 14-0 in district play. They have a warning for 2019 and beyond: The Panthers are still hungry and will be back. You can count on it.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Garrett Hall of Sugar Land, TX for earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout is the highest honor a Boy Scout can earn. Only a small percentage of Boy Scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout. This honor requires years of effort to develop the necessary leadership, service and outdoor skills. To earn it, Garrett developed and provided leadership to others in a service project. For his project, Garrett redesigned and built a 2.5 mile competition-level orienteering course at Brazos Bend State Park in Needville, TX, which suffered damage from Hurricane Harvey. This included remapping the course with new instructions, and creating and installing 15 posts that could withstand future storms. His dedication to our community has prepared him to be a leader in his future career. The leadership skills he has learned through Boy Scouts are already benefiting our community. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Garrett for becoming an Eagle Scout. We are proud of his continued success and thank him for his dedication to making our community a better place.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Alex Galor of Sugar Land, TX for earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout is the highest honor a Boy Scout can earn. Only a small percentage of Boy Scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout. This honor requires years of effort to develop the necessary leadership, service and outdoor skills. To earn it, Alex developed and provided leadership to others in a service project. For his project, Alex worked with his synagogue to design, plan and build a genizah, which is a place to hold outdated and unused prayer books and other sacred texts. He also raised funds and organized volunteers to build the project and plant a garden surrounding it. His dedication to our community has prepared him to be a leader in his future career. The leadership skills he has learned through Boy Scouts are already benefiting our community. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Alex for becoming an Eagle Scout. We are proud of his continued success and thank him for his dedication to making our community a better place.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jim Allison of Houston, Texas, for receiving the distinguished 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Mr. Allison earned the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his pioneering research that led to a new type of cancer treatment that frees the immune system to attack cancer and cancer-related tumors. Allison, MD Anderson Cancer Center's chairman of immunology, conducted research that led to a class of drugs that better equips the immune system to fight cancer. Allison began his career at MD Anderson in 1977, where he was one of the first employees of a new basic science research center. In 2015, Allison won the Lasker Award, often called the American Nobel. His Nobel Prize is only the fifth ever recognizing cancer research. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Mr. Jim Allison for his work in the medical field. His earning of the Nobel Prize speaks volumes for the work ethic and innovation of our community.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, as a former Naval aviator, I rise today to congratulate a Navy veteran and longtime federal employee, John Herndon, on his retirement. John is retiring from his position as a FG-14 Program Manager in the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration. He served a total of 37 years, four months, and seventeen days in the federal workforce. After serving in the Navy for 20 years, six months and six days and deploying worldwide in support of reconnaissance squadrons, John retired as Maintenance Chief. His work serving our country both in and out of uniform deserves our utmost respect and gratitude. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Mr. John Herndon. May he have fair winds and following seas in his retirement.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Superintendent James ``Buck'' Gilcrease and the Alvin Independent School District's for hosting their ``The Day'' of Service project, held on September 8, 2018. ``The Day'' is a way for the entire student body and staff of Alvin ISD to show their gratitude to the Alvin community. ``The Day'' is about coming together as a school district and expressing appreciation, but also working to instill a sense of service within the student body. During Hurricane Harvey, many students gave their time and talent to help folks in need. One year later, to recognize the anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, the student body came together to make the community a better place for the first annual ``The Day''. This year, 20,000 students and staff members showed up to engage in a multitude of service projects. These projects included providing gift bags to first responders, washing cars for local police stations, picking up trash in neighborhoods, and holding roadside prayer. This is tremendous community spirit that deserves recognition. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, thank you again to Superintendent Gilcrease, the staff and students at the Alvin Independent School District for their first annual ``The Day'' of Service. I thank them for their dedication to improving our Alvin community.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mary Ellen Trail Ross, Dr. P.H., M.S.N., R.N. of Fort Bend County, who was awarded a gold medal from the Good Samaritan Foundation. Ross began her teaching career at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Cizik School of Nursing 30 years ago. She has taught 17 different courses. Her work has helped students and faculty alike. Her dedication has resulted in a gold medal in the ``Nursing Education: Faculty'' category at the Good Samaritan Foundation's 2018 ``Excellence in Nursing'' Awards ceremony. Nurses are nominated by their peers for exemplifying excellence in teaching, mentoring and leadership. Ross credits the foundation in helping her achieve her own goals, as she received their scholarship funds during her time as a graduate student. She is passionate about educating future nurses. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Mary Ellen Trail Ross for earning a gold medal from the Good Samaritan Foundation. Her contributions to the field of medicine as well education make our community proud.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on September 28, 2018 due a family emergency that required me to return to Texas. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 413, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 414, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 415.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, like every American, every Member of Congress has a lower tax rate because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Every Democrat voted against this law. It was mocked as mere crumbs. Well, folks back home have a question for House Democrats: #keepingthecrumbs? The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ended the death tax. The junior Senator from California said repealing the death tax is ``a giveaway to those at the top, not something that will create jobs.'' Here is a response from a friend back home in Fort Bend County, Dan McDonald. Dan says, ``E-I-E-I-O.'' Dan's comments are echoed by those of Rosenberg Tractor's Gary Allred. Gary says, ``Getting rid of the death tax keeps jobs right now and adds jobs in the future because Texans can keep their lands, pass them on to their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids for all eternity. Let's step up and pass version 2 and get #keepingthecrumbs.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1320) to amend the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 related to Nuclear Regulatory Commission user fees and annual charges, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.