Robert Pittenger

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Thank you, my good friend, Congressman Stewart, for your leadership tonight on the very important timing of this, precluding the important meetings we will have this week. Madam Speaker, I am here tonight to pay tribute and gratitude to Prime Minister Netanyahu for taking the time to come to the United States to express his grave concern over the perilous threat that he sees for the United States and for Israel. Since 1948, with the inception of Israel, they have been a steadfast, loyal, democratic ally for the United States. They have stood strong as a surrogate on our behalf, fighting terrorism, Hamas, Hezbollah, and al Qaeda. Being there in Israel last week, in the Golan Heights, I saw young men and women, 20 and 21 years old, in the tank division prepared for battle. They were courageous. Down in Gaza, the same type of commitment. They had the recognition of the realities of those missiles firing across, those missiles that are funded by Iran. I met with the Prime Minister and I asked him the same question I asked him a year ago: Mr. Prime Minister, at such time that you need America, will America be there for you? The best answer he could say was: Congressman, I hope so. What a sad commentary on a relationship that we have with our most important ally in the Middle East. The footprint of the terrorism of Iran is throughout the Middle East and, yes, throughout the world. They have been the primary funding agent for terrorism for the last 35 years. Every incident that you have seen in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, Yemen and other parts has their hand of funding and commitment. The Prime Minister understands the critical role that is played in addressing this threat. Like Winston Churchill, he is coming to America to awaken the world to this perilous threat, a threat that Winston Churchill saw, that he spoke of time and again. While the world allowed Germany to take Austria and Czechoslovakia, we deferred, we appeased, we thought nothing else would happen. We have given concession after concession after concession to Iran, $12 billion in repatriated oil profits have been remunerated back to Iran. We have fueled their economy, sustaining their economy, enabling them to go forward. You know, in any negotiation--and I have been involved in many--you succeed with your adversary when you tighten the screws, not when you loosen them. We have had an inverse effect in this entire communication and dialogue with Iran. What we have done has created an entity that is willing and able to continue this further negotiation because we have sustained their economy. Yes, the oil prices have come down, but what if we had kept the screws on them? You know, the Soviet Union came to the table back in the late 1970s and the early 1980s and through the 1980s. Why did that happen? Because we had sustained economic pressure, sustained political pressure, sustained military pressure, sustained human rights pressure--we kept the pressure on. We have relieved the pressure from Iran; and, as a result, we are faced with the consequences now where they have changed the entire narrative. The narrative in the beginning was: Should Iran have nuclear materials? Now, the narrative is: What level of nuclear materials should we allow Iran to have? That is how much we have lost in this process. This is no time to be weak-kneed. This is a time to work with our allies in the Middle East. I have been and sat down with the Crown Prince in United Arab Emirates. I have sat down with the Emir in Qatar and with President el-Sisi. They all understand the gravity of terrorism. They all understand the issue of Iran. The world sees this threat. This is no time to appease; this is no time to defer. This is the time to be strong. Ronald Reagan was strong. The world knew America was strong--yet he never fired a shot, and the Wall came down. When America is strong, the world is at peace. God help us to understand the gravity of this hour, the importance of the message that will come from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, I am here today absolutely in amazement that we are in this discussion about the Constitution of the United States. This is an issue of the balance of powers. This is an issue of our liberties. As important as the Homeland Security bill is, we recognize today that the Congress has made its statement, the President of the United States has made his statement 22 times that he did not have the right to declare amnesty, the courts have made their statement, and yet today we are in this dialogue. I hope the American people are watching today and seeing the miscommunication of truth. The truth is we are committed to the Constitution, and we are going to stand by the Constitution. We are not going to allow the edict of one person to commit this country to a direction unchallenged. We are here committed to that principle. We believe that the rights of the American people are founded in this Constitution, and we will submit ourselves to that.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: WHEREAS, pollution and contamination prevention are at the heart of national government policy and at all levels of government in communities, businesses and public awareness; and WHEREAS, filtration, separation and coalescing processes have been developed to meet the changing needs of all concerned parties for a cleaner and healthier environment; and WHEREAS, the need for a healthier environment is inherent to enrich and shape our way of life and address issues across a broad spectrum of issues in everyday life; and WHEREAS, the filtration, separations and coalescing industry consists of highly trained and skilled tech-savvy practitioners and professionals who constantly provide solutions to the industry's most critical un-met needs; and WHEREAS, the industry offers training programs for industry R&D, product development and engineering personnel, it equally seeks to inform and provide insight, access and in-depth training to end-users seeking an improved environment and quality control to satisfy their needs; and WHEREAS, liquid, air and coalescing industry workers, companies and supporters across America are celebrating National Filtration Week, Now, I encourage all suppliers and users of filtration, separation and coalescing technologies in the power generation industry to take advantage of opportunities these technologies offer.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Harold Eatman of Matthews, North Carolina, who is a 99-year-young brave patriot who volunteered for the 82nd Airborne at the start of World War II because he wanted a tough assignment. Mr. Eatman is one of the few paratroopers to make all four World War II jumps--into Sicily, Italy, Holland, and Normandy. For his bravery in helping to liberate France from Nazi brutality, the French Government on Tuesday awarded Mr. Eatman the prestigious Legion of Honor medal, an award created by Napoleon. Mr. Eatman's dedication extends beyond the battlefield. Following his discharge after World War II, he volunteered for another year's Active Duty to help escort the bodies of fallen soldiers as they were returned home. Please join me in thanking Harold Eatman for his bravery and sacrifice in fighting for freedom--an exemplary example of the Greatest Generation.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 596 to repeal the Affordable Care Act. I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: If this ObamaCare is so good, then why am I hearing so much from my constituents that they can't keep the insurance plans that they liked? Many have seen their premiums skyrocket, and too many that need help have fallen through the cracks because of a flawed system where ObamaCare picks winners and losers at the expense of the American taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, today's vote on repeal is an important first step. We will replace ObamaCare with patient-centered reforms, increasing competition and lowering costs by allowing insurance to be sold across State lines, ensuring portability, and safeguarding individuals with preexisting conditions, all by providing freedom of choice, not more fines and taxes. Mr. Speaker, ObamaCare is a train wreck. I urge my colleagues to support today's repeal and join me in working toward a commonsense replacement.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Judge Poe for his great leadership in this very important area. It is so encouraging to see the bipartisan commitment. Thank you, Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Maloney, for your strong support. When I came to Congress, it was my perception that human trafficking was a concern found in other parts of the world, certainly not in North Carolina. After talking to our law enforcement, I found out that North Carolina was within the top 10 States for human trafficking. As such, I realized that we needed to take care of our own in our own region and hosted a meeting for public officials, church leaders at the Billy Graham Center. We brought in wonderful organizations, Compassion to Act, Justice & Mercy, Neet's Sweets, and others who have been there on behalf of these women. There are so many important ways that we can provide safety, security, a safe haven for these precious young girls that have been brought into slavery. Human trafficking is one of the most tragic issues plaguing our world today. Nearly 21 million human beings are living in modern-day slavery, including domestic servitude, forced labor, and sex work. As a nation, we have both a moral and a constitutional obligation to protect the most vulnerable in our society from this horrific exploitation. I therefore urge all my colleagues today to join in supporting the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 presented by Congressman Poe. We need to ensure that we can provide to these young, domestic human trafficking victims the support that they need. This week, yes, we in the House will devote ourselves to raising awareness of this heinous crime and passing legislation to take significant steps toward the eradication of trafficking, both domestically and abroad. However, even as Human Trafficking Awareness Month draws to a close, our dedication must not waver. I thank the chairman for his leadership, and I thank my colleagues for their support.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and respect of the thousands of people who will come to our city to rally to give support to the life of the unborn. Twenty-five years ago while in London I saw a video that depicted the life, as they described it, of the baby. It wasn't anything less than a baby. Mr. Speaker, I am a father, and I am a grandfather. I have got nine grandchildren. Every life is precious. Who is to know, Mr. Speaker, that that unborn baby might be the curer for cancer or might be the curer for Alzheimer's? Only God knows. I thank the leadership for bringing forth this legislation tomorrow. I respect them for doing it. We need to rally in support to show our commitment to the life of the unborn.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. I thank the gentleman from Texas, Chairman Carter, for his tremendous leadership, this important legislation, and for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, tonight I am reminded of Thomas Jefferson, who once said: ``Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it.'' Mr. Chairman, we have heard repeatedly from our leader, our President, that he has said he is not king, he is not emperor, and that his powers, as President, are restricted. But his actions speak louder than words. Republicans are committed to holding the President accountable for his overreaching executive actions. We have achieved remarkable success in this country because we are a Nation governed by the rule of law, not by the decrees of monarchs. As recent events around the world have tragically reminded us, there are those who are still committed to destroying our way of life. The Homeland Security Appropriations bill we are debating tonight supports the needs of the brave men and women who protect us each day and meets the requirements to keep us safe. The amendments accompanying this legislation ensure we continue to be a Nation governed by laws and prevents any funds from being used to implement the President's unconstitutional decrees of amnesty while it prevents further implementation of DACA, which led to the crisis at the border last summer. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to protect our great Nation and supporting the amendments to protect the rule of law.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership and Mr. Fitzpatrick. Today, I rise in support of H.R. 37, the Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act. We are here, once again, debating simple measures aimed at growing the economy and relieving some of the unnecessary burdens imposed by the Dodd-Frank legislation. Even Tim Geithner, the former Secretary of the Treasury, stated that the Volcker rule and implications of it being regulated were not material in the demise and harm due to major institutions, rather as a result of extended credit. This legislation included in this bill is bipartisan, which is why so many of my colleagues already voted in support of it in the 113th Congress and again last week. This is a jobs bill. The relief we can give to small business today directly impacts their ability to create jobs. For instance, although small companies are at the forefront of technological innovation and job creation, they often face significant obstacles in obtaining capital in the financial markets. These obstacles are often due to the largest burden that securities regulations, which are typically written for large public companies, place on small companies when they seek to go public. We need competitive markets that encourage innovation, and we need to a develop regulatory environment that acknowledges the differences between small, private, and start-up companies and well-established public companies.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Section 3: ``This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.''

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization, known as TRIA. I would like to commend Chairman Hensarling and Congressman Neugebauer. TRIA does not curtail terrorism, but this legislation does protect taxpayers, promotes stable markets, and enhances economic certainty in the face of terrorism. Another important provision included in this legislation is the bipartisan legislation known as the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act, which the House has passed by 411-12. This is a basic but very important clarification to the highly regulatory Dodd- Frank Act. This reform will ensure that end users, such as manufacturers, ranchers, and small companies, are not subject to the burdensome margin and capital surcharge requirements imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act. Even the creators of Dodd-Frank have argued in favor of exempting these end users from margin requirements. Without this essential clarification, small Main Street businesses will have to post additional margins against trades that they enter into for the sole purpose of managing commercial risk. These transactions do not pose a systemic risk to our financial systems, and they did not cause the 2008 financial crisis. A failure to address this issue will cause serious harm to the Main Street economy. Instead of investing and expanding their business to create jobs, small business owners are being forced to direct resources to comply with more burdensome and unnecessary regulations coming out of Washington. This is not a controversial issue. This is a bipartisan provision that 181 Democrats in Congress have already voted for in support. We must not play politics with something as important as TRIA, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5759, the Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act, of which I am a cosponsor. President Obama's decision to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants is an unconstitutional abuse of power which flaunts the rule of law and opens the door for an exponential influx of illegal immigrants. Our Founding Fathers risked their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor against such acts of a monarch, and neither President Obama nor any future President should trample upon their sacrifice. H.R. 5759 wisely deals with our current crisis while also blocking future Presidents from this egregious abuse. Every American should be concerned by the President's unconstitutional grab of power. If the President can change this law, what prevents him from this abuse of power in other policies? I urge all of my colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, to join me in supporting and passing this legislation. I also urge the Senate to stand up for the Constitution and swiftly pass this legislation. This is not the only action the House will take to restrict the overreach of the President, and I am committed to continuing our efforts in the coming weeks and into the next session of Congress.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3240, the Regulation D Study Act. This bill is simple. It directs the Government Accountability Office, GAO, to study the regulatory impact on depository institutions, consumers, and monetary policy. Current regulations limit common online and automated transfers and withdrawals from nontransaction accounts, such as savings accounts, to only six transfers per month. The regulators who created this rule never envisioned online banking and modern banking technology, and because only some transactions are subject to the six-per-month restriction and others are without limit, this rule is very confusing to consumers. Today, many families use online banking tools to actively manage their finances with unnecessary restrictions from these outdated rules. Regulation D requirements force financial institutions to focus on compliance concerns rather than spending more time with consumers to meet their financial needs. This is commonsense legislation that is not only good for financial institutions, but for American families as well. The issue of allowing only six transfers per month for certain bank accounts hasn't been reviewed in several decades. With new technological advancements and online banking, we owe it to our hardworking American families to revisit this regulation. H.R. 3240 enjoys support from the Credit Union National Association and the National Association of Federal Credit Unions, whose financial institutions serve millions of Americans. Mr. Speaker, I will submit for the Record a letter of support from the president of the Credit Union National Association, which serves 100 million members across the country. Credit Union National Association, Washington, DC, December 1, 2014. Hon. John Boehner, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi: On behalf of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), I am writing in support of H.R. 3240, bipartisan legislation scheduled for consideration this week by the House of Representatives. CUNA is the largest credit union advocacy organization in the United States, representing America's state and federally chartered credit unions and their 100 million members. H.R. 3240, sponsored by Representatives Robert Pittenger (R-NC) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the impact of the Federal Reserve Board's monetary reserve requirements, implemented through Regulation D, on depository institutions, consumers and monetary policy. The House Financial Services Committee favorably reported this bill to the House on July 20, 2014 by voice vote. Regulation D impacts credit union members by limiting the number of automatic withdrawals from a member's savings account to six transactions per month. The impact of this limit is to unnecessarily cause credit union members to overdraft their checking accounts when a debit draws the checking account balance below zero and the member has already had six automatic transfers during the month. When this happens, members who may have the funds in a savings account to cover the debit are hit with nonsufficient fund fees (NSF) from their financial institution and, when a check is involved, a returned check fee from the merchant. This is not a result of an overdraft protection program--this happens because of a regulatory cap on automatic transfers. It is difficult for credit union members affected by the cap to understand that this is out of the control of the credit union when the funds to cover the debit are sifting in their account at the credit union. We believe the cap should be increased or eliminated, but we understand that one of the reasons the regulation is in place is because the Federal Reserve Board is authorized to use it as a tool to conduct monetary policy. As a first step toward a possible change in this cap, the legislation directs the GAO to study the issue. This effort will make more information available for Congress to determine whether an increase in or the elimination of this cap would substantially affect the Federal Reserve Board's ability to conduct monetary policy. Specifically, H.R. 3240 directs the GAO to examine and report within one year of enactment on the following topics: an historic overview of how the Federal Reserve Board has used reserve requirements to conduct monetary policy; the impact of the maintenance of reserves on depository institutions, including the operations requirements and associated costs; the impact on consumers in managing their accounts, including the costs and benefits of the reserving system; and, alternatives to required reserves the Federal Reserve Board may have to effect monetary policy. The bill also directs the GAO to consult with credit unions and community banks. According to former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke, ``. . . reserve balances far exceed the level of reserve requirements and the level of reserve requirements thus plays only a minor role in the daily implementation of monetary policy.'' A GAO study will allow an objective assessment of whether the rarely changed monetary reserves imposed on depository institutions and consumers are necessary in order for the Federal Reserve Board to implement monetary policy in the 21st century. CUNA strongly supports this bill. On behalf of America's credit unions and their 100 million members, thank you for scheduling H.R. 3240 for consideration. We look forward to working with you and members of the House of Representatives to swiftly enact this legislation. Sincerely, Jim Nussle, President & CEO.

Mr. PITTENGER. As technology advances, we need to make sure Federal regulations keep pace. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke has said that account ``reserve balances far exceed the level of reserve requirements, and the level of reserve requirements thus plays only a minor role in the daily implementation of monetary policy.'' We can continue to protect the financial system while allowing families more flexibility to use online banking tools. This legislation has strong bipartisan support, and I would like to thank my colleague from New York, Congresswoman Maloney, who serves on the Financial Services Committee, for joining me in introducing H.R. 3240. A GAO study will allow an objective assessment of whether the rarely changed monetary reserves imposed on depository institutions and consumers are necessary in order for the Federal Reserve to implement monetary policy in the 21st century.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I do rise today in memory of Union County Sheriff's Deputy Sergeant Jeff Greene, who died yesterday in a tragic motor vehicle accident in Monroe, North Carolina. Sergeant Greene was a 10-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office and managed the offices responsible for gun permits, for fingerprinting and the sex trafficking registry. He was also a veteran, having served honorably in both the United States Air Force and the United States Marines. Sergeant Greene was a family man, and I would ask my colleagues to remember his wife, April, his daughters, Nicolle and Allison, and his five precious grandchildren in your prayers. Sergeant Greene was committed to serving his community both as a law enforcement officer and as an active volunteer. He will be greatly missed. May we honor all like Sergeant Greene and remember to pray daily for them, these brave men and women who faithfully work to protect our communities.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, much has been said and written about the ratings of the United States Congress and the approval of what the American people think of us. It is somewhere right around 10 percent. Let me tell you those ratings don't take into consideration Howard Coble. My esteemed friend in this Congress is regarded by his own constituents as a family member. Howard Coble chose not to be married, but what became his family were his constituents. What became his friends were his colleagues in Congress. Both sides of the aisle love Howard. I am one, Congressman Coble, who loved seeing you out there on that back row every time I walked in, with a big smile and a good story, and everybody would come by and say hello to Howard during the course of the session, just to see you, because you are special to all of us. Yes, my good friend, Congresswoman Foxx, did tell a story about how my life was spared as I was chewing some chicken, and I realized I couldn't chew and laugh at the same time as I tried to swallow that chicken, and then here came Mr. Huckabee to give me the Heimlich and save my life. Well, you know, I was in a primary a year after that. It was 11 people in the primary, and the one good thing about that is I got a sympathy vote from Mike Huckabee, and he endorsed me, so that was a good thing. Howard, thank you. Thank you for being committed in your job. On the Judiciary Committee, on the Transportation Committee, you were faithful in every respect, to do the right thing for North Carolina, for your district and, frankly, for the American people. We are all in debt to you for your service to this great country. Our country is better off today because of the life of Howard Coble. Thank you. God bless you.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman. Mr. Chairman, I acknowledge the tremendous leadership that you have given to this Nation. I am grateful for what you have done as a servant in our Congress to protect this Nation, to provide the security that is needed, and I admire you greatly for your work. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this amendment. This amendment is critical to begin the needed process to destroy ISIS. Yes, it is limited in scope of what the President has designated the Congress to approve, but it is necessary. We must convey to the world our commitment to destroy ISIS, the gravest threat that we have ever seen in the history of this country. But a grave threat, Mr. Speaker, requires a commitment, a thorough commitment, to make sure the job is done. What we are doing today is limited in scope, but yet it is very important. We cannot, however, have a commitment that is limited, we cannot have the mindset of a Neville Chamberlain, who never recognized the threat and the force of Adolf Hitler in Germany. We have an enormous threat before us today. The President gratefully acknowledges the threat. However, he has been long in coming to that reality of what we face in the world today. Yes, he did stand down on missile defense in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Yes, he did stand down our military to the lowest levels since World War II. Yes, he has appeased the Iranians and given them additional time to build up their economy, to build up their nuclear capacity. He has a scope of the world and understanding that is foreign to me. There are real adversaries out there. Gratefully, he understands the adversaries that we have in ISIS today. They are but yet a part of the dimension of what we are forced to encounter. It must be done, and it must be done with this initial amendment. We will need to come back. We will need to be honest with the American people of what is required to secure this country.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Nancy Writebol, a dedicated Christian missionary from Charlotte who chose to run toward danger. Ms. Writebol and her husband, David, serve as missionaries with SIM at a hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. They turned down the opportunity to evacuate when Ebola struck Liberia. Instead, Nancy volunteered to help sanitize the medical personnel and their equipment as they worked in the Ebola isolation ward. This week, Nancy learned that she, too, has contracted Ebola. Like the people she volunteered to help, Nancy is now in isolation. Although stable, she is battling an illness that kills 60 percent of the victims. Nancy and David could have chosen the easy route. Instead, they chose a higher calling of sacrificial love and service. Please join me in praying for Nancy's complete recovery and giving thanks for the Writebols, Samaritan's Purse, and the SIM mission agency for working tirelessly to help Ebola victims and others in need in Liberia.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 398, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' Amendment Offered by Mr. Gosar

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Rogers for this opportunity to speak. I just really want to commend you for your exceptional leadership as a Member of this body and for your service on behalf of the security of our Nation. Over the past year, it has really been a privilege to get to know you and work with you on several initiatives. I am just grateful for the way that you handle the people's business, look forward to working with you more, and also congratulate you on your future endeavors. The legislation before us today provides the intelligence community the authorization needed to protect and defend the United States and supports critical national security programs, such as those protecting Americans against terrorism and cyber attacks. As Members of Congress, we took an oath to the Constitution, which sets forth our duty to provide for the defense of the United States. Passing the yearly Intelligence Authorization Act is a critical component of living up to our constitutional obligations, ensuring America's intelligence agencies have the resources necessary to keep Americans safe. Passing the intelligence authorization is also vital to our important responsibility of providing oversight to the current administration. This legislation ensures Congress, and not the executive branch, is controlling how taxpayer money is being spent on intelligence activities and doing so in the most efficient and effective way possible. We must remember that we have not defeated the threat of terrorism. The terrorists we face today are not a backyard gang; they are sophisticated and have access to the most modern of technologies. Over the last 2 years, we have seen the number of worldwide deaths from terrorism attacks double from 10,000 in 2012 to 20,000 in 2013. The fact that we in America are able to sleep soundly at night is a credit to the men and women who serve our country selflessly. We must continue to provide these brave men and women every tool possible as they continue to provide for our safety. That is why I encourage all my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall votes Nos. 218 and 219, I am not recorded because I was absent from the U.S. House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner. On rollcall No. 218. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 219. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and much other legislation that we will consider today. I also rise in support of Antonia, Maria, and Rosa, three wonderful women from Charlotte who fell victim to human trafficking. Maria was trapped when she answered an ad for aspiring actresses. Rosa was snatched from a local gas station while waiting for a ride. Antonia dreamed of owning a bakery before falling victim to human trafficking. These women aren't statistics. They are individuals whom I know from Charlotte, ordinary women--someone's daughter, someone's granddaughter. Yet at a very young age they were forced into modern day slavery. According to the Department of Homeland Security, trafficking is a $32 billion a year industry, and the average age for a girl entering the commercial sex trade is just 12 to 14 years old. Madam Speaker, this is one of the most heinous of crimes. As Members of Congress, we have a constitutional and moral obligation to protect the most vulnerable in our society from this horrific exploitation. Increased awareness and education is a critical first step in breaking the cycle of exploitation here in the United States and around the world. Today, we have the opportunity to take legislative action, voting on five bills which will help people like Antonia, Maria, and Rosa. Today, we can vote to enhance the victim assistance programs, give law enforcement better tools to catch the scum whom we call traffickers and facilitators, and fix some of the loopholes exploited by traffickers. Thank you to Mr. Goodlatte, to Judge Poe, to Mrs. Maloney, to Susan Brooks, and to many others who are involved in this very important effort. Thank you to the majority leader for his involvement, to all members of the trafficking task force, and thank you to each Member who will support this very important cause. Thank you to Antonia Childs of Charlotte, who has dedicated her life to helping other women escape modern day slavery. Maria and Rosa wouldn't be on the road to recovery without you. I urge my colleagues today to support the antitrafficking legislation before us today.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote Nos. 194-196, I am not recorded because I was absent from the House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner. On rollcall No. 194. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 195. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall No. 196. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Will Grier who, as quarterback of the Davidson Day School, led them to three consecutive championships. Over his high school career, Will threw for 195 touchdowns, averaged 383 passing yards a game, and once threw 10 touchdown passes in a single game. For his exploits on the field, Will Grier was named Parade Magazine's 2014 All-America Player of the Year and was selected as America's top high school football player by Football USA. He graduated from high school a semester early and is already attending classes at the University of Florida, where he will continue his football career. While I congratulate Will for his football accomplishments, I also want to congratulate him for remaining focused off the field. At Davidson Day, he chose to be a positive role model, regularly spending time with younger students and always reading to the elementary classes. Please join me in congratulating Davidson's and North Carolina's Will Grier for his accomplishments and for his commitment to serving others.

Mr. PITTENGER

Mr. PITTENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lieutenant Nate King of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Just a few days ago, Lieutenant King was conducting routine police business when a frantic mother drove up and placed a seemingly lifeless baby into his arms. Six-month-old Lily was choking to death. Without losing his cool, Lieutenant King quickly began lifesaving measures, and soon little Lily started screaming and crying. Thanks to Lieutenant King's efforts, little Lily is alive today. Even better, the doctors who examined Lily that day at the hospital determined she was fine and had made a full recovery. On behalf of Congress and the people of North Carolina's Ninth Congressional District, thank you to Lieutenant King for your exceptional service. You make us all proud. Thank you to all the brave men and women of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department who face diverse difficult challenges, even placing their lives on the line to serve us each day.