Scott Perry

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Chad Shifflet for his exemplary service to the Cumberland Valley School District as a Security Officer and as the creator of the Mountain View Middle School's Angel Closet, which provides age and environmentally- appropriate clothing for children in need. After a distinguished 23-year career in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, Mr. Shifflet became a Security Officer with the Cumberland Valley School District in August. During his orientation with the school district, he walked through all of its schools and learned that many children there did not have the clothing items that they needed in order to learn and succeed. When he took up his assignment to the Mountain View Middle School, he located a twelve-foot by twelve-foot room that he could use to distribute clothes to students in need and established an Angel Closet. Shifflet partnered with a local consignment shop, which donated clothing racks and hangers, and a local drycleaner, which agreed to d1y clean all winter coats. Local donors keep the Angel Closet well-stocked with a range of comfortable and appropriate clothing items which are available for students who need them. This has ensured that all Mountain View Middle School students have access to clean, comfortable clothing so that they can thrive at school. Shifflet's Angel Closet makes sure that no clothing donations go to waste, sending clothes that are too big for middle school students to the high school, clothes that are too small to the elementary school, and clothes that would not appeal to school-aged children to the Salvation Army. He hopes to expand the operation so that every school in the district has an Angel Closet and eve1y child has access to the clothes that they need to excel. Mr. Shifftlet's remarkable, lifelong record ofservice to our Nation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Cumberland Valley community is an example to all. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Tenth Congressional District, I commend and thank Mr. Shifflet and wish him continued success in his service to the children of Cumberland Valley School District.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, today I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Young America's Foundation (YAF) on 50 successful years of promoting Conservative ideals to the youth of our Nation. Beginning in 1969 at Vanderbilt University, YAF has shaped itself as the preeminent organization in promoting and defending American values. In 1974, the organization began its fruitful relationship with then-Governor Ronald Reagan, asking him to take on a nationally syndicated radio program. President Reagan continued his strong support of YAF by hosting the organization's annual summer student conference at the White House from 1981 until 1988. In gratitude to this giant of American Conservatism, YAF saved and took ownership of the colloquially-dubbed ``Western White House'' in 1998, using it as a space of learning for our Nation's Conservative-minded youths. YAF' s incredible grassroots success is a direct result of investing in the future of America. Young people are provided with seminars, conferences, educational materials, access to prominent speakers in the Conservative movement, and internships. I saw YAF's broad impact firsthand when asked to speak to their student audiences this past July at the organization's National High School Leadership Conference. It was inspiring to see so many young people devoted to carrying on the legacy of President Reagan and our Nation's founding values. So long as YAF continues its vocation of service to our Nation's youth, the future of America's Conservative movement remains bright. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Tenth Congressional District, I commend and congratulate the Young America's Foundation for 50 years of tireless advocacy on behalf of individual freedom, a strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, this isn't Russia; this is America. Yet right in this building, a Soviet-style Star Chamber to remove the duly elected President is occurring. The person who leads it lied to the American people for 2\1/2\ years about evidence he didn't have. The person who leads it is literally guilty of what he accuses the President of doing when he is caught on tape negotiating with foreign people about getting dirt on the President. The person who leads it lied to the world in his reading of a mock transcript about the conversation that the President had with the President of Ukraine, and the person who leads it misled the world about his relationship with the whistleblower, or the so-called whistleblower. Madam Speaker, we need to end this Stalinist, guilty-until-proven- innocent Star Chamber now.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Tenth District of Pennsylvania and a grateful Nation to honor the memory and exceptional service and sacrifice of Specialist Fourth Class John Wesley Dahr of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. Specialist Dahr earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his unhesitating and selfless bravery in combat during the Vietnam War, and made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of his fellow Soldiers, and for our Nation. On 8 January 1967, Specialist Dahr was participating in search and destroy missions near Cu Chi with elements of the 25th Infantry Division, when his company was pinned down by Viet Cong and received heavy incoming fire. Specialist Dahr willingly subjected himself to enemy fire and waded through waist-deep water to aid a wounded comrade. After carrying the wounded Soldier 100 meters to safety, he repeated his heroic actions, rescuing two more Soldiers before returning to the center of the battlefield to combat the enemy. As he fired upon the Viet Cong, he saw yet another wounded Soldier and ran to his aid. Despite extreme risk to his own life, he stood up in the open to hold the injured warrior above water while he sought help to get them both to safety. Specialist Dahr was mortally wounded during his attempt to rescue a fourth Soldier. Specialist Dahr's actions set the standard by which all others should be judged. Our Country owes him a debt of eternal gratitude for his extraordinary actions in the line of duty and in the face of terror. Specialist Dahr's tireless, selfless and heroic actions are a credit to himself, his Family, the United States Army and the United States of America.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Tenth District of Pennsylvania and a grateful Nation to honor the memory of Specialist Fourth Class John Wesley Dahr of Dillsburgh, Pennsylvania who earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his exceptional bravery in combat during the Vietnam War. Specialist Dahr made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America and for his fellow soldiers. On January 8, 1967, Specialist Dahr was participating in search and destroy missions near Cu Chi with elements of the 25th Infantry Division when his company was pinned down by Viet Cong and received heavy incoming fire. He willingly exposed himself to enemy fire and waded through waist-deep water to aid a wounded comrade. After carrying that soldier one hundred meters to safety, he repeated his heroic actions, rescuing two more soldiers before returning to the center of the battlefield to combat the enemy. As he fired upon the Viet Cong, he saw another wounded soldier and ran to his aid. Despite extreme risk to his own life, he stood up in the open to hold the injured man above water while he sought assistance to carry him to safety. Dahr was mortally wounded during his attempt to rescue a fourth soldier. Specialist Dahr has America's undying gratitude for his extraordinary heroism. His courage and sacrifice demonstrate the best of our military's tradition of service to our Nation.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, today I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Mitchell S. Drucker, a resident of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, on his upcoming retirement after 24 years of dedicated service to the United States of America. Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Drucker currently serves the United States Army War College in coordinating Army Heritage Education Center (AHEC) Operations. He entered the United States Army in 1995 and served in numerous assignments and deployments across his distinguished career. In October 1995, LTC Drucker joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and became a commissioned officer two years later. In August 2002, LTC Drucker deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina, serving as a Battle Captain in the S-3 section and as the Liaison Officer for two joint contingent operations. After receiving his Command of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT) in May 2007, LTC Drucker deployed as the Commander of HHT to Sinai, Egypt in support of the Multinational Forces and Observers mission. He successfully redeployed to the United States to begin preparations for the next deployment. His numerous commendations and awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medals, and others, are a testament to his steadfast courage, personal integrity, tireless work ethic and impeccable character. His enduring legacy of service to our Nation truly is exceptional and sets a standard for all to follow; he has left a lasting impact on all of those he has trained. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Tenth Congressional District, I commend and congratulate my fellow brother-in-arms, Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell S. Drucker, upon his retirement and for his tireless service to the United States of America.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the good gentleman for bringing this issue to light and for holding this Special Order, and, of course, my colleagues who are with me here today. All of us who are probably older than the age of 25 have watched, probably in every State in the Union, certainly in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, every little town that you drove through in the State that I am privileged to represent, every little town had some small business, or maybe two or three: a shoe factory, a dress factory. One of the little towns south of us had a cigar factory or two. Over the course of my adult lifetime, those little factories, those small employers in every single town have left. The reason they left is multiple, but one of them is because the trade deals that were signed by previous administrations encouraged them to leave. They encouraged our competitors to take them over, and we closed up shop. We lost those jobs. Our folks in America had to go find work elsewhere and get retraining elsewhere. It has been 25 years since NAFTA was enacted. Twenty-five years is a long time. Things were different 25 years ago. There wasn't e-commerce. We weren't all thinking about a globalized economy. Now these antiquated laws that we are living under are holding back our American economy. If we would just pass the USMCA--it is in the hands of the Speaker right now. If we would just pass it, 176,000 new jobs, $68 billion in growth to our economy. Instead of being worried about trading with China and being concerned with what China is going to do, we could trade with people we really agree with who are right on the other side of our border: Canada and Mexico. Wouldn't that be wonderful? We need to modernize our laws, and that starts by allowing the USMCA to go through. That framework should be considered today. We need free and fair trade. We don't have that right now. We must pass the USMCA to bolster quality, family-sustaining jobs in America, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and other States around our country. The USMCA is a win for the American worker. It is great to help out our neighbors around the globe, but our responsibility first is right here at home in our States, like the State of Pennsylvania where I am privileged to come from. The USMCA is a great start and a strategic win. Today I am calling on House leadership to allow for the consideration of the USMCA without any further delay. Let the chips fall where they may. Put it on the floor, and let's see what happens. I suspect it will pass, which means the will of the people will be done and we can get to work working more with our allies and our friends and doing better for Americans. Quite honestly, while China is waiting to make a trade deal, one of the reasons they are waiting is because this Congress won't approve one in the USMCA. They are saying: Why should we come negotiate with America when their Congress won't approve what we negotiate? We need to show them that we will approve it; we do stand with the American people and the American worker. We need a better deal with China, too, and it starts with the USMCA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for allowing me the time and for bringing this issue to the forefront.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the outstanding men and women of the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard for earning the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award--for the eighteenth time. This highly prestigious award recognizes the Wing's exceptionally meritorious service from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2017. During this period, 772 Airmen from the 193rd Special Operations Wing deployed in support of contingency operations overseas, advancing our military's effectiveness on the battlefield while protecting our Nation and our American way of life. During the same period, the Wing also distinguished itself through its domestic operations; the unit is at the cutting edge in disaster relief capabilities. After Hurricane Harvey and again after Hurricane Maria, the Wing performed vital life-sustaining activities--working around the clock to deliver personnel and critical cargo to the affected areas and to restore communications to advance disaster relief efforts. The Airmen of the 193rd Special Operations Wing consistently demonstrate excellence in their training and operations across our Nation and around the word. On behalf of the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, we're honored to be the home of such a distinguished unit. I commend the Wing for earning the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award again, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to them for their hard work, tireless dedication and steadfast service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor and commemoration of the 225th Anniversary of the founding of Halifax, Pennsylvania. Located in Dauphin County, Halifax was established in 1794 where the Armstrong Creek meets the Susquehanna River. It was incorporated as the Borough of Halifax on May 29, 1875, and named after the nearby Fort Halifax, a Pennsylvania stronghold in the French and Indian War. Halifax is a community of hard work, strong values, and rooted in deep traditions that maintain its connection to its past, sustain it in the present, and prepare it to thrive well into the future. Halifax's community values--``Service Above Self''--have made it a vibrant and vital part of the fabric of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America. Halifax will continue to flourish and to serve as a model of ``communities done right'' for generations to come. To our friends and neighbors in Halifax, and on behalf of the 10th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, I congratulate the People of Halifax on their momentous milestone of this 225th Anniversary, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude for their long and continued history of contribution to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, today I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Thelma Romberger, a resident of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, who is celebrating 100 years young on Thursday, December 12, 2019. Mrs. Romberger was born in her grandmother's farmhouse in rural Carlisle and has since claimed Southcentral Pennsylvania as her lifelong home. She married her husband of 53 years, World War II Veteran Chester E. Romberger, in May of 1941. Throughout her life, Mrs. Romberger owned and operated both a grocery store and a mobile home park; she also mowed her own grass with a push lawn mower well into her eighties. She previously enjoyed camping and is now both an avid salt and pepper shaker collector and Checkers player. I join Thelma's friends and family in extending my best and warmest wishes to her on this special day, and in celebrating her life and contributions to our great Commonwealth and Country. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Tenth Congressional District, I extend God's blessings and my heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Thelma Romberger on her 100th Birthday.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the outstanding men and women of the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard for earning the Wing's 18th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. This highly prestigious award recognizes the Wing's exceptionally meritorious service from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2017. During this period, 772 Airmen from the 193rd Special Operations Wing deployed in support of contingency operations overseas, advancing our military's effectiveness on the battlefield while protecting our Nation and our American way of life. During the same period, the Wing also distinguished itself through its domestic operations. The unit is at the cutting edge in its disaster relief capabilities. After Hurricane Harvey and again after Hurricane Maria, the unit performed vital life-sustaining activities, working around the clock to deliver personnel and critical cargo to the affected areas and to restore communications to advance disaster relief efforts. The Airmen of the 193rd Special Operations Wing consistently demonstrate their excellence in their training and their operations across the country and around the word. Pennsylvania's Tenth Congressional District is honored to be the home of such a distinguished unit. I commend them for earning this Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to them for their hard work, dedication and steadfast service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to the United States.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for offering me just a moment to talk about something that is very important to me. Madam Speaker, I rise today at a time when the United States and the international community must step up efforts to combat money laundering. Money laundering is a critical source of funding for terrorist organizations and drug cartels like the ones that my good friend from Florida might be talking about tonight. These are drug cartels and other organized crime rings. It is used to disguise profits from or financing for illicit activity. Money is moved in a variety of ways across borders and through the global financial markets to evade detection by law enforcement--global financial markets just like ours. While exact numbers can't be determined, estimates suggest that annual sums of money laundering are in the trillions of dollars--trillions. Money laundering facilitates a broad range of serious underlying crimes, including the financing of North Korea's and Iran's nuclear proliferation networks and the activities of terrorist operations. Money laundering also plays a significant role in drug, human, and wildlife trafficking. In today's world, money launderers rely on both new and old methods. The crime is conducted through shell companies, bulk cash smuggling, gambling, cyber-related methods, and investments in mobile commodities, including things that you might not think about, like gems and real estate--yes, real estate. For example, we have recently seen a rise in money laundering through luxury real estate purchases. Some people come to me and say there is a housing crisis. Well, when money launderers are inflating the cost of housing by laundering money through overpaying for a property, that is a problem for vulnerable populations in the United States. These real estate purchases happen in major U.S. cities as well as international cities like London and Dubai. Madam Speaker, money laundering threatens political stability, democracy, and free markets around the globe, and we must take steps to counter it right now. I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding to me. Honoring the Memory of Rosewood

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Robert Clemm, who has served actively for 60 continuous years with the Camp Hill Fire Company. Mr. Clemm joined the company in June of 1959. During his college years, he volunteered as a dispatcher. While he served as Assistant Fire Chief for many years, he now serves with the Fire Police. He has consistently distinguished himself over these 60 years through quiet leadership, ability, dedication and kindness. His efforts have improved fire safety not only in Camp Hill, but across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Education has been a core part of Mr. Clemm's mission. While volunteering with the Fire Company, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and, in 1963, began a distinguished career as an award-winning industrial science teacher in the Big Springs School District. Mr. Clemm used his skill as an educator to become a state-certified fire instructor for the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy. He taught advanced specialty classes, with topics including vehicle rescue, aerial operations, and methods for use of rural water supplies. When the Fire Academy faced budget troubles, he volunteered his time to ensure that Pennsylvania's firefighters would have the best training possible. He's also worked as an instructor in the Fire Science program at the Harrisburg Area Community College, where he helped to prepare future generations of fire instructors. Mr. Clemm believes in teaching and preparing for the future, which not only makes him an effective teacher, but effective leader and mentor. His support, guidance, and inspiration to his fellow firefighters have spurred many to greater heights, strengthening the Company, ensuring its future, and improving the safety of the community. After serving for decades as a firefighter, spending most of those years as Assistant Fire Chief, Mr. Clemm has moved on to support the Company's fire police operation. He's been instrumental in upgrading training for the fire police both locally and at the state level, and his insight has been invaluable as the Company acquired two fire police units. On behalf of Pennsylvania's Tenth Congressional District, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and sincere gratitude to Mr. Robert Clemm for his selfless and tireless service to our community and Country.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I started, like many folks did, working when I was a young man. People have different reasons for seeking employment. I needed to get out of the house, as some things were happening at the house, but I didn't have any skills. I rode my bike to a nearby farm, and I picked fruit. I didn't make minimum wage because I couldn't pick fruit fast enough, because I didn't have the skills to do that when I was 13 years old, but I learned to show up on time with a good attitude. That is a valuable thing. That is where we start out. That job wouldn't have been available if this minimum wage of $15, enacted from the Federal level, would have forced that employer to make a choice whether they hired me or hired somebody else. I didn't want to make the minimum wage. I wanted to make the maximum wage, but I had to have some skills. The next job I got still wasn't minimum wage, but I worked hard. Now, I had the skill of showing up on time with a good attitude. I kept on doing better and better and better for myself because the jobs were available. Mr. Speaker, if this legislation is enacted, young people and people at the bottom of the economic spectrum that we are trying to help are not going to have that opportunity. That is what this is really about in America, having opportunity. A minimum wage requirement from the Federal level doesn't draw any distinctions between Los Angeles and Gratz, Pennsylvania, a great little town that I am privileged to represent. It doesn't draw a distinction between Chicago or Shiremanstown. It says they all have to do the same thing. Dover or New York, all the same wage, really. I don't have tall skyscrapers in central Pennsylvania like they do in New York City, Chicago, and L.A., but I have hardworking people who want the opportunity that is provided by the market. There are 7.5 million jobs open right now. The market is providing the wages to incentivize people to come to them, and they have an opportunity to go to another job and make even more under the free market. The Federal Government is going to stifle that with this $15 an hour minimum wage. Mr. Speaker, I urge us not to vote for this bill.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for hosting this Special Order and continuing to elevate this issue and keep talking about it. The last time that we were speaking on this floor about the crisis on our southern border with Mexico, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle were still denying there was a crisis, if you remember. In report after report--if you watched CNN, MSNBC, et cetera--they said it was a manufactured crisis, manufactured by Donald Trump. To their credit, they finally agreed that there is a crisis. I just thought, well, such is the state of the Democrats on the other side of the aisle. But mere acceptance of reality counts for progress around here. But we have got to be thankful that we are at least having a conversation sometime. But you would think, with this crisis on our border--5,000 people a day coming illegally. That doesn't count the ones coming at points of entry. Those are in between the points of entry. And that also doesn't count the ones that weren't caught, right? Those are the ones we caught. Usually, Border Patrol says you can times two whatever we caught because others are getting through. You would think that we would be working around the clock here to fix this crisis at the border since we all now agree that there is a crisis. But, instead, my good friends on the other side of the aisle are focused on smearing the President. I get the partisanship, but what really troubles me is they are also focused on smearing Border Patrol and ICE agents that are duty bound. They raise their right hand and take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and the laws that we created, that this body created. They are just doing their job that we asked them to do, and for that, they are being criticized, demonized, and smeared. To add further insult to injury, some of our colleagues are now saying that they want to abolish these folks, the agencies--ICE and Homeland Security. You didn't hear that wrong. That is a solution. So, a solution to the problem of people coming illegally, pouring across the border, offered by the other side of the aisle, in some cases, is to abolish the agencies and the people who are working to stop it. This completely sounds wrongheaded to me. I don't know who that makes sense to, but it doesn't make any sense to me. Now, what other ideas have we heard? Of course, amnesty for illegal foreign nationals. That is going to fix the problem, because if you know that you can break the law and nothing is going to happen to you, I am sure that is not an encouragement to keep on breaking the law. I am sure that is not somehow. Decriminalizing illegal entry. So, if you have somebody trespassing on your land and you go to the police and you say, ``Hey, these folks keep trespassing on my land,'' the police say, ``Well, here is our solution. We are just going to make trespass legal now. Are you good with that?'' Well, that doesn't seem like much of a solution. Eliminating detention facilities. So, recently, a study maintains that 30 percent of the young people--usually young girls, but not exclusively, but young people that are being brought in--because these folks know that if they bring a child with them, it is tantamount to just immediate entry--30 percent of them had no connection, had no familial--family connection to the person that they are with. So, the reason to have detention facilities, among other things, is to try and figure out: Is this child with a parent or a relative, or is this child being trafficked? A solution to this overwhelming problem offered by my friends on the other side of the aisle is to just get rid of the detention facilities. So, the last place that this small child is looking for salvation, for safety, to stop the trafficking that is happening at that time, looking to America, probably praying and hoping that, finally, when I get to America, they are going to find out that I am being exploited in horrific ways. Our good friends on the other side of the aisle say, No, we are not going to do any of that. Just keep on exploiting the kids, but don't do it here. Don't do it in Mexico either. Now, just keep exploiting them in your town. Well, that is not much of a solution. To me, that is horrific, thinking about that. Of course, then, another solution is providing taxpayer-funded healthcare for people that came here illegally. Mr. Speaker, I don't know where everybody lives, but I know that people in the community that I am privileged to represent are having a hard time paying for their own healthcare now, let alone paying for people that came here illegally. And, again, that is a solution to stop people from coming across the border offered from our friends on the other side of the aisle. Let's face it, these are incentives. These aren't solutions to fix this problem; these are incentives to exacerbate the problem. I don't know what reality my good friends on the other side of the aisle are residing in, but, so far, it seems to me their platform has been amnesty, apathy, or apoplexy. And we are frustrated because we know that the solutions are out there. We have worked on them here, and we are happy and willing to work with our friends and colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but they seem paralyzed by theatrics in politics. We know that loopholes in our immigration laws are being exploited by human traffickers and drug cartels. They are taking laws designed to help the most helpless, and they are using them for profit at a tragic cost to children and families. Yet, the policies and the solutions proposed by our good friends on the other side of the aisle expand those loopholes or create even brand-new ones. And we know, with hundreds of thousands of people streaming across the border, we need funds for beds and detention space. Some of our friends on the other side of the aisle say, ``Well, we don't want you to detain these people, and we are not going to provide any funding for beds.'' So the answer is, when they come across the border, don't even talk to them. Just let them keep on going. Let the children stay with their trafficker, end detention altogether, leaving the trafficked child at the mercy of their trafficker. Then there is the dangerous transnational criminal organization, not only trafficking in children, but the drugs that are ravaging your very community. They are coming across our southern border. Barriers, fencing, and wall, they are a force multiplier, because if our Border Patrol agents don't have to stare at this place right here on the border because there is a barrier there, they can look over here where traffickers are coming across. Without any barrier, they have to look everywhere, and there is just simply not enough of them. The other side shut the government down, trying to stop us from securing the border. These cartels make massive profits. You heard about El Chapo's sentence today. It is estimated he was making $3 billion a year trafficking children and drugs into your community, $3 billion a year. El Chapo is in jail. Do you think somebody else didn't take over? Do you think he was the only cartel in Mexico? The other side is wasting time on this floor passing partisan bills that have no hope of becoming law. Meanwhile, ICE made more than 1,500 human trafficking arrests, and 97 percent of those were for sex trafficking. 20,000 children were illegally smuggled into the United States in December of last year alone, 20,000 children. These are little kids. I know the statistics start to run together, but these numbers must be recited. As of March this year, CBP has seen over a 50 percent spike in gang members apprehended at the southern border. Did you look to see what happened in Los Angeles just this week, the arrests and the horrific crimes? Is this what we want in our communities, people hatcheting and macheteing each other to death, cutting each other apart? We have a great country. There is no reason to do this. In the last 2 years, ICE has arrested 266,000 aliens with criminal records. Those aliens had convictions, including 100,000 assaults, 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 homicides. If you believe the cartels are going to stop making millions a year if we decriminalize the border and abolish ICE, you are not living in reality. Every day, children are being recycled across the border, serving as human shields. They send them across with somebody; they send them back; and then, they come back with somebody else. That is trafficking. There is no consequence to it. It is time to stop just talking about protecting the children being exploited. It is long past time to start protecting them and our communities by closing the loopholes that are used to hurt them. A famous quote we have all heard goes like this: ``The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men and women do nothing.'' That is happening, Mr. Speaker, in this House. The country is still waiting on the leadership of this House of Representatives to do something. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) for inviting me and keeping this issue front and center.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman of the committee for this opportunity. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment, which will require the Secretary of Defense to report on the current level of threat sharing between the Department of Defense and the defense industrial base related to cybersecurity. Our defense industrial base faces increasing threats from our adversaries, including Russia and China. The loss of research and information to cybersecurity hacks is putting our Defense Department's investments at risk and eroding the warfighting advantage the United States maintains over our adversaries. In June 2018, The Washington Post reported that a contractor working with the Navy on a supersonic anti-ship missile was hacked by the Chinese Government. In December 2018, a Defense Department Office of Inspector General audit found that the Army, Navy, and Missile Defense Agency were failing to take basic cybersecurity steps to ensure that information on America's ballistic missile defense system won't fall into the hands of our adversaries. I commend the work that the Department has already undertaken to address this need, but more must be done. The Department of Defense must play an active role in identifying current threats and helping to fortify the cybersecurity of our defense industrial base, which includes many small and medium-sized businesses, as well as academic institutions. This amendment asks the Secretary of Defense to include a section within an existing report that examines the current level of threat sharing between the Department and the industrial base. Madam Chair, I thank the committee for allowing this amendment to be included in the en bloc, and ask the committee's indulgence in support of the amendment. I thank the chairman, again, for his willingness to allow me to speak on behalf of the amendment.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for the opportunity. This amendment ensures adequate funding for the purposes of instructing the FAA to continue the remote tower pilot program. Remote towers provide air traffic control services through the use of cameras and/or other instruments that provide information to controllers not in the same location. This is an innovative way to provide ATC services, significantly decreasing the upfront costs of building a control tower, and it reduces the annual operating and maintenance costs, especially where one remote tower provides coverage for several small airports in the vicinity. A 2007 FAA study found that the technology in a remote tower actually improves surveillance capabilities at night and in inclement weather conditions. With more than 20,000 nontowered U.S. airports missing out on the benefits of an air traffic control tower, including streamlined access, reduced delays, and increased safety margins, remote towers provide a cost-effective way to enhance the safety and performance at these airports. It is vital that we continue to support the FAA's remote tower pilot program allowing for innovative ways to improve safety and reduce costs. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for her important amendment, and I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of her amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Chair, I thank my good friend from Idaho and my good colleagues from the other side of the aisle for allowing this amendment to receive consideration. Hydropower is one of the Nation's most affordable and reliable renewable electricity resources. With over 100 gigawatts of installed capacity, hydro makes up nearly 7 percent, on average, of all U.S. annual electricity generation. As a matter of fact, hydro is the single largest source of renewable electricity, representing over one-half of all renewable energy generation in 2018. This is due to the significant advantage hydropower generation, as a baseload source of energy, has over intermittent sources, like wind and solar. It provides predictable, continuous generation 24-7-365 without the need to hold backup generation in standby to power the lights when the Sun goes down or the wind stops. Because of this important distinction, additional hydropower generation results in increased generation rather than just capacity. If we want to be serious about increasing renewable energy, we need to focus on what works best. More can and must be done to significantly expand this vital energy resource. Only 3 percent of the 80,000 dams in the U.S. currently generate electricity, leaving substantial potential for additional generation from unpowered dams. As a matter of fact, in my home State of Pennsylvania, there is an estimated 678 megawatts of untapped hydropower. The recent trend of closures among baseload power generation facilities threatens our Nation's ability to meet our energy needs. Unleashing the full potential of hydropower provides a remedy that is proven, reliable, and renewable. Critical to realizing this potential is DOE's Water Power Technologies Office. This amendment increases funding for the office by $2 million to continue their important mission. Madam Chair, I ask the support of my colleagues for this amendment.

Mr. PERRY

Mr. PERRY. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Maryland. What time is it? 2:30 on the East Coast here. Some little girl on the border of Texas, they don't know where to put her; they don't have a bed for her. The Department of Homeland Security has made this request. They have said they are out of money. They are out of resources. Some little girl who has probably been brought by some trafficker, who has been told to keep her mouth shut or else, has nowhere to be. We are in here talking about reports and everything but providing the resources--not that the President has asked for. I mean, I am sure the President has, at the behest of his Secretary who knows, who is operationally on the ground, who sees the problems as they occur. And because we certainly can't have President Trump have a victory, some poor little girl is crying in a corner somewhere because she has been dragged across the border by some trafficker. We don't even do the biometric test that is required by law. We don't even know, we can't prove that she is with her family. The adult says: You tell them that I am your father. You tell them I am your brother or uncle. You tell them, or else. And what do we do? We just accept it. We accept this trafficker's word for it that this little girl belongs with him. It is unacceptable.

Mr. PERRY. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. PERRY. Madam Chairwoman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. PERRY. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. PERRY. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. PERRY. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.