Gary Palmer

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Israel's 70th anniversary of independence. The United States has no stronger ally in the Middle East than the State of Israel. Our relationship is one rooted in shared values and a commitment to freedom and democracy. Israel's dedication to political and economic freedom, free and fair elections, and freedom of religion provides a stark contrast with other regimes in the region. On this anniversary, I also want to recognize the important relationship between Israel and the State of Alabama. Few people know that 5 years prior to Israel gaining independence, Alabama became the first and perhaps only State to call for the establishment of a Jewish state. Seventy-five years ago, on June 10, 1943, in the midst of World War II, the Alabama legislature unanimously passed a joint resolution calling for a Jewish state, and for the Jewish people to have the right to self-government and self-determination. Since that day, in acknowledgment and support of our mutual values, Alabama and Israel have maintained a special friendship. Indeed, Alabama and the United States are proud to call Israel our ally, and look forward to our continued support of Israel and our continued friendship.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for setting this up, and I thank the gentleman from Georgia for leading it. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the impact that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is having in Alabama's Sixth Congressional District. Millions of Americans across the country are now reaping the benefits of tax reform in the form of higher paychecks, and my district is no exception. I would like to give just a few examples of how my constituents are using the additional money to benefit their families. One woman from Mountain Brook noted that her employer was paying out bonuses of $1,000 as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and that she will deposit that money in her health savings account. Another woman from Trussville talked about how the savings would help with tuition payments for her two college-age daughters. The ability to help with tuition payments was a common theme among my constituents. Another gentleman from Birmingham noted that his family used their larger paychecks to help pay for college and have placed additional money in savings. A man from Hoover shared that he was able to make additional payments toward his mortgage principal, increase the amount he was contributing to his 401(k), and was able to take his wife out to dinner and a movie. It seems the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts may be having an additional benefit for marriages in a way we hadn't considered. Finally, another gentleman from my district noted, and I would like to quote him here: ``We now have an additional $250 a month thanks to the tax plan. We love the crumbs.'' That was the same message I got from a lady in our church who received a $1,000 bonus from her company. These are just a few of the numerous examples of the individuals and families in my district that continue to benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. But the benefits don't stop there. Regions Bank, which is headquartered in Birmingham, recently announced that they would be making a range of investments as a result of the tax cuts, including raising the minimum hourly wage in their branches to $15 per hour, and that is without a government mandate. They are also contributing $40 million to the company's charitable foundation and increasing their capital expenditures budget by $100 million in 2018. It is not just the big companies that are doing this. Smaller businesses are getting in on the act as well. One small business in my district, Wadsworth Oil, sent a note along with their employees' paycheck letting them know that, as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, they would be getting cumulatively $22,000 in bonuses. Despite fierce opposition from those who wanted to maintain the broken status quo, Republicans in both Houses of Congress were able to deliver a significant win for the American people. Going forward, we must maintain this momentum and continue to enact policies that strengthen our economy, create jobs, and increase the pay and benefits for American workers.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1209) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 901 N. Francisco Avenue, Mission, Texas, as the ``Mission Veterans Post Office Building''.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1209, introduced by the gentleman from Texas, Representative Henry Cuellar. H.R. 1209 honors the veterans of Mission, Texas, for their service to this Nation, veterans like First Lieutenant Joaquin Castro. Lieutenant Castro, born in Mission, Texas, served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps from 1941 until 1943, when he was declared missing in action. For his service, Lieutenant Castro earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster. I look forward to hearing more about Lieutenant Castro and the veterans of Mission, Texas, from Mr. Cuellar. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4685) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 515 Hope Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, as the ``First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna Jr. Post Office''.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4685, introduced by the gentleman from Rhode Island, Representative David Cicilline. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4685 names the U.S. Post Office at 515 Hope Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, after U.S. Army First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna, Jr. First Sergeant McKenna served 15 years in the Army, most recently as a Green Beret, and then as the first sergeant for the Special Operations Joint Task Forces--Afghanistan. In August 2015, First Sergeant McKenna was killed in action while defending Camp Integrity in Kabul, Afghanistan, against insurgents. For his bravery and leadership during the attack, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. This bill would honor his service to the Nation, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4406) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 99 Macombs Place in New York, New York, as the ``Tuskegee Airman Post Office Building'', as amended.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4406, introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat). H.R. 4406 names the U.S. Post Office at 99 Macombs Place, New York, New York, after the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were a squadron of skilled pilots in World War II who were the first African- American military aviators in the U.S. Armed Forces. This bill honors their skill and service to the Nation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for bringing up this bill. The State of Alabama takes immense pride in the Tuskegee Airmen for their skill and courage. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make the gentleman from Missouri aware that I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2673) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 514 Broadway Street in Pekin, Illinois, as the ``Lance Corporal Jordan S. Bastean Post Office''.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2673, introduced by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos). H.R. 2673 names the post office at 514 Broadway Street in Pekin, Illinois, after Lance Corporal Jordan S. Bastean. Lance Corporal Jordan S. Bastean enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after graduating high school. He deployed to the Helmand province of Afghanistan, where, on October 23, 2011, he gave his life in service of our country. H.R. 2673 pays tribute to Corporal Bastean's sacrifice. I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4646) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1900 Corporate Drive in Birmingham, Alabama, as the ``Lance Corporal Thomas E. Rivers, Jr. Post Office Building''.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4646. This bill names the post office at 1900 Corporate Drive in Birmingham, Alabama, after Lance Corporal Thomas E. Rivers, Jr. Corporal Rivers was a resident of Hoover, Alabama, and a graduate of Briarwood Christian School. Both of Rivers' grandfathers served in the military, and he desired to follow in their footsteps. Corporal Rivers wrote in a high school essay that he ``wanted to be a marine since he was 10 years old,'' and that he believed ``joining the Marines would be a good experience for him because it would teach him to rely on God to make it through.'' Two weeks after graduating from high school, Thomas fulfilled his dream by joining the Marines. He was known by his fellow marines as a man of devout faith who was always looking for ways to serve his fellow marines. In the early morning hours of April 28, 2010, while deployed in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Rivers ordered his men to take their positions. However, the marine assigned to stand watch was exhausted. As a patrol leader, Rivers was never required to stand post, but Thomas had been reading in the Bible about how love isn't an emotion but is demonstrated in laying your life down for your friends. Rivers told the weary marine: ``I'll stand post for you; you rest.'' Tragically, while replacing the exhausted marine, Rivers activated an improvised explosive device. Rivers gave his life for his country and exemplified the attitude in John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this, that he should lay down his life for his friends. This bill pays tribute to Corporal Rivers' sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate very much the comments from the gentleman from Missouri. I know the family does. I knew Corporal Rivers. He attended the same high school as my children. I know his mom and dad very well. He is another example--as we have heard time and time again on this floor--of young men and women willing to sacrifice their lives not only for their country, but for their fellow soldiers and marines. It is an honor to stand here with my friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) to urge passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make the gentleman from Missouri aware that I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.