Hal Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 448, I call up the bill (H.R. 719) to require the Transportation Security Administration to conform to existing Federal law and regulations regarding criminal investigator positions, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close if the gentlewoman is prepared.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present H.R. 719, a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open and operating after the end of the fiscal year on September 30. This necessary measure funds government and services at the current rate through December 11 of this year. As in previous years, the CR also includes a small across-the-board reduction to keep within the fiscal year 2016 cap level set by the Budget Control Act. Mr. Speaker, this is a responsible measure that prevents a harmful government shutdown, while allowing time for a larger budget agreement to be reached, and time to complete the full year appropriations work for 2016. It also includes a few responsible provisions to prevent disastrous, irreversible damage to government programs or to address current urgent needs. These changes are limited in scope and noncontroversial. For instance, these provisions extend the authority for critical Department of Defense activities that fight terrorism, increase funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs to help address the disability claims backlog, and provide emergency funding to the Forest Service to help respond to the disastrous wildfires that are devastating our Western States. While I firmly believe this legislation is the best path forward at this time, it is also my strong opinion that Congress should do its job and enact actual, line-by-line, separate appropriations bills ahead of our September 30 deadline. Clearly, this is not an option at this time, so we must resort to a temporary measure like this CR. A CR doesn't reflect our most current budgetary needs. It creates uncertainty across the whole government and does not adequately address our national security obligations, and it causes needless waste when taxpayer dollars are spent inefficiently and ineffectively. So it is to my great dismay, Mr. Speaker, that we have arrived at this point once again requiring a temporary Band-aid to buy us time to do our constitutionally mandated duty. The House this year got off to a great start--beginning our appropriations work at the earliest date since 1974--the current Budget Control Act's anniversary--and passing six of our 12 bills by July of this year. My committee reported out all 12 bills for the first time since 2009. And yet, the Senate refuses to act, giving us no choice but to try a continuing resolution. But now, with progress stalled, it is clear that all sides must come together to find some sort of agreement that addresses our current fiscal situation in a comprehensive way. This CR, while not ideal, is the next step toward that end, keeping the government's lights on as we work to find a solution. With current funding set to expire just hours from now, I urge my colleagues to do the responsible and reasonable thing and support this continuing resolution today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), a very valued member of my committee who happens also to be the chairman of the Labor HHS Subcommittee.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Jolly), a member of our committee.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I shall be brief. I appreciate the work of my colleague, Mrs. Lowey, ranking member on the committee, and all of the people on her side of the aisle and, of course, on our side of the aisle as well. This is a good bill. It is a responsible bill. It does not do anything controversial. It does do one important thing, and that is keep the government operating. We can't afford to abandon our soldiers, particularly those overseas in harm's way. We can't abandon the people that depend upon the programs that our Federal Government provides. I urge Members to vote ``yes'' on this bill. It is a good bill, and it keeps the government operating. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent), a hardworking member of the Appropriations Committee, the chairman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, and, coincidently, the chairman of the House Ethics Committee.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. 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 H.R. 719, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the question of adopting a motion to concur pursuant to House Resolution 448 may be subject to postponement as though under clause 8 of rule XX.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Pikeville Independent School District in celebration of 100 years of education and service in the coalfields of Eastern Kentucky. Pikeville Independent Schools have attained notable achievements across the board, including accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for Pikeville Elementary and High Schools. The educators in this school system go the extra mile to prepare students for the next level, earning an impressive second place ranking in the state for college and career readiness. Currently, at the high school, 45% of junior and seniors are taking one or more dual credit courses through the University of Pikeville and annual National Merit semi- finalists. Juniors at Pikeville High also consistently rank among Kentucky's top ten districts for ACT composite scores. Not only are individual students succeeding, but the entire student body of each class is raising the bar for achievement. Pikeville High and Junior High Schools have earned recognition as schools of distinction, while also ranking among the top ten in the state for KPREP scores as a district. The founders of this private school district clearly laid firm cornerstones that continue to support the success of its students in its centennial year of education. Today, every Pikeville Panther has access to new, innovative opportunities like state-of-the-art science labs and online courses, as well as basic support like tutoring and full time teachers for humanities in every school. However, educators are often faced with helping students through far more daunting challenges than tests and essays in the classroom. At Pikeville Independent, students are taught the value of respect and growth in every area of student life, from academics to extra-curricular activities, thereby inspiring the development of a well-rounded student with a good moral compass. With an average attendance rate surpassing 95%, parents and students clearly understand the importance of education in the new global economy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating 100 years of educational achievement in the heart of coal country. When our students succeed, the future of this great Nation gets much brighter. Congratulations to Pikeville Independent Schools. Go Panthers.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a leader in the fight against drug abuse in Kentucky, Ms. Connie Neal, upon her upcoming retirement from the Administration Office of the Courts, as the Drug Court General Manager for Kentucky. Connie Neal received her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Morehead State University in 1985 and a Master's Degree from the University of Kentucky in 1992. She has more than 22 years of experience in the field, ranging from working with court committed juvenile offenders, to the dually diagnosed mentally ill, to Child Protective Services, to Drug Courts. Since the inception of the Kentucky Drug Court Department in 1996, Connie has dedicated her career to this life-changing program, working her way up through the ranks and taking the helm as General Manager in 2012. Thanks in large part to her leadership, more than 7,000 participants have successfully completed the program, more than 1,000 babies have been born drug free, $5.3 million in child support has been collected, and $5.7 million court obligations have been paid. Today, Kentucky has more than 54 Adult Drug Courts, 5 Veteran Treatment Courts, one Mental Health Court, as well as one DUI Court. It is her sheer courage and conviction to provide individuals with a second chance in their darkest hour that has driven her efforts to expand services in the Commonwealth. In addition to her tireless efforts for Kentucky Drug Courts, Connie has conducted workshops for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, the Kentucky School of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and Community Corrections and countless other partners and stakeholders impacted by the national drug abuse epidemic. Connie's passion and drive to help addicts achieve long-term recovery has been instrumental to the growth and success of Drug Courts across the Commonwealth. In fact, she has developed an expertise in training judges, teams and staff in nearly every county, helping each leader confront the daily challenges of Drug Court with tremendous grace. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the incredible impact that Connie Neal has made in the efficiency and effectiveness of Drug Courts in Kentucky, evidenced by the thousands of individuals who have been reunited with loved ones and are now living as productive, drug-free citizens of the Commonwealth. May her years of retirement be richly blessed.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the fiscal year 2016 Department of the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. This is the eighth of the 12 individual bills that have made it to the floor. That is a record pace, by the way. It is the fastest that these bills have come before the House since at least 1974, when the Budget Control Act came into being. This bill, as the chairman said, provides just over $30 billion in discretionary funding for programs that preserve and nurture our Nation's unique natural and cultural heritage. This fulfills our responsibility to the American taxpayers to provide funding for these important programs within a smart and sustainable budget. Our responsibility to the American taxpayers, of course, doesn't end there. The people of this Nation expect their government to act in a way that fosters economic development and job creation. This current administration has been neglecting that duty, instead choosing to push a regulatory agenda that would create an environment hostile to economic growth, that would put our energy independence at risk, and that could cost thousands of hard-working Americans their jobs. So this bill takes important steps to stop this harmful executive overreach. First and foremost, we limit funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, cutting its funding by 9 percent from last year. The bill also prohibits the EPA from implementing a litany of its egregious, expensive regulations, including applying new greenhouse gas regulations for power plants, updating existing ozone regulations, and changing the definitions of ``navigable waters'' and ``fill material,'' all of which could spell disaster for our economy. The bill also prevents the Bureau of Land Management from hampering economic growth by halting increases in oil and gas inspection fees and from burdening ranchers with higher grazing fees. Provisions like these will help get the government out of the way of growth, preventing the overregulation and overtaxation of American business and industry, and keeping down manufacturing costs and utility bills for families across the country. In addition, the bill also focuses funding on other important Department of the Interior related programs. For instance, the bill creates a new $30 million program to help accelerate the reclamation of abandoned mine lands, boosting local community redevelopment. The bill also fulfills our moral and legal obligations to American Indians and Alaska Natives, increasing funding for programs that will help improve education systems, health facilities, and other infrastructure. The bill prioritizes the prevention of and preparation for wildland fires, increasing funding for these programs billwide by $52 million. Mr. Chairman, this is a fine appropriations bill that we have before us today. I want to commend Chairman Calvert for his good work on this bill. He, the ranking member, and the subcommittee have done a thorough job on the bill, and I am proud to support it. I also want to thank the staff for their work to bring this bill to the floor today. This is the maiden voyage, Mr. Chairman, of this cardinal, this new chairman, the new chairman of this subcommittee. This is his first bill, and it is a good one. I want to salute him and his staff for doing a great job in putting together a bill that was tough to put together. Congratulations to you. Before I close, Mr. Chairman, I want to take a moment to recognize one of my staff members, Mike Robinson, who will be moving on to greener pastures next week. Mike started working for me nearly 20 years ago and has had several tenures in my personal office. Four years ago, he joined the Appropriations Committee, the front office, as coalitions and Member services director. Many of our colleagues have gotten a chance to know Mike over these past 4 years. He has answered your questions. He has helped you offer amendments. He has helped guide dozens of appropriations bills to passage. He has been an integral part of the staff over these years, and we will miss him greatly when he departs. Thank you, Mike, for all of your hard work. We are very grateful to you. Mr. Chairman, this is an appropriations bill that puts our Nation's economy first. It preserves the role of the Federal Government, making sure the government is doing its job well, not in a way that intrudes into the lives of American businesses or the American people, but in a way that encourages our economy to grow and thrive, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, on roll call no. 375, due to unforeseen circumstances I was unable to vote on H.R. 160, the Protect Medical Innovation Act. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend John Michael ``Mike'' Ringler on the occasion of his retirement, having served for 17 years on the House Appropriations Committee. In total, he has provided more than 27 years of distinguished, quiet service to our country. His integrity stands as a model for us all. Mike, a native of Rector, Pennsylvania, graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, enhancing his experience by studying abroad in the United Kingdom and Ecuador. He also earned a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. Mike counts himself as an avid fan of Steelers football and Hoyas basketball, and he fine tunes his own basketball skills at weekend games with friends and colleagues. Mike began his career in Washington, D.C. in 1987 as a Presidential Management Intern at the U.S. Information Agency, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. From there, he rose through the ranks as a budget analyst then financial manager by 1996 before spending a year as the budget officer for the Broadcasting Board of Governors. In 1997, he started his dedicated service to the House Appropriations Committee, serving as Professional Staff from 1997 through 2001; Majority Clerk and Staff Director from 2002 through 2006; Minority Clerk and Staff Director from 2007 through 2010; and finally as Majority Clerk and Staff Director from 2011 through the early spring of 2015. Mike spent his entire Congressional career working on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, where he was responsible for leading the review, analysis, and production of the annual appropriations bill providing more than $50 billion for the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and several related agencies. He also oversaw spending for various State Department programs and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mike recently has gone back to his roots and now works for his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh. Mike's contributions extend beyond his role on the Appropriations Committee. For years, he participated as a reading mentor with Everybody Wins! in Washington, D.C., a literacy mentor program with one-on-one, read-aloud sessions. Mike's other passions include music-- both playing guitar and attending classical Indian music recitals and small music venues. Mr. Speaker, Mike Ringler has left a tangible, lasting imprint on the Congress where he was known as a calm, diligent force on the Committee and a trusted mentor for professional staff and fellow clerks alike. He will be remembered for his many contributions to the Committee. I wish Mike and his family continued success as he enters this next stage of his life, and I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing my appreciation for his tremendous contributions to our nation.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I thank the chairman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this Defense Appropriations bill. The demands on our military are high. We are confronted with escalating Russian and Chinese aggression, threats from ISIL and other Islamic terrorist groups, burgeoning nuclear programs in countries like North Korea, and ongoing war in Syria, Yemen, Libya, and other places. We just don't know what may sprout up next. But in the face of this uncertainty, we can ensure that our military forces are ready and able to meet whatever challenges may arise. We can make very sure that our troops and commanders have the tools and support that they need to protect this great Nation and our way of life. To this end, the bill provides $578.6 billion in discretionary funding. That is $24.4 billion above last year's level and includes $88.4 billion to ensure that we can meet the needs of our military as they fight the global war on terrorism. This level of funding complies with the caps set by the Budget Control Act, as well as the House-passed Defense Authorization bill. Within this total, the bill prioritizes military readiness, providing $219 billion for operation and maintenance programs that keep our troops trained and prepared to respond quickly and decisively. The bill also provides priority funding to ensure that our Armed Forces are supplied with the equipment and the weapons that they need to conduct successful military operations. Mr. Chairman, our military is the best in the world, and this bill ensures that it stays that way. We invest $67.9 billion in research and development that will keep us on the cutting edge of defense technology and enable us to meet a wide range of future threats to our security. But our military is nothing without the brave men and women in uniform who sacrifice so much in their service to this Nation. We must keep morale high and provide for the health and well-being of our warfighters and their families. So the bill includes a 2.3 percent pay raise for our troops. That is more than the President requested. The bill contains $31.7 billion for the Defense Health Program to meet all estimated needs this year. This funding includes important increases above the President's request for things like cancer research, traumatic brain injury and psychological health research, and suicide prevention outreach. I am proud, Mr. Chairman, that this appropriations bill accomplishes all of this but also takes important steps to streamline spending at the Pentagon, ensuring that no dollar goes to waste and that we live within our means. I want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and his subcommittee staff and members and his very trusted ranking member for their good bipartisan teamwork on this bill. The chairman and ranking member demonstrated ironclad commitment to our troops and to the security of this Nation with this bill. I would also like to acknowledge the hard-working staff, Mr. Chairman. They spent many, many hours preparing this bill for consideration by us today. Mr. Chairman, above all else--above all else--we must provide for the national defense of the United States. Nothing can exist--not our domestic government, not our private enterprise, not our freedoms-- without ensuring that that basic need is met. Our national security is far too important to fall victim to political games. We can't risk having an underfunded military during these uncertain times, and our troops deserve unfailing, unanimous support as they lay their lives on the line. No political games on this bill, Mr. Chairman. This is for real. I urge Members to support this bill. These are bipartisan priorities addressed in a bipartisan way, and I want to see that our colleagues send a strong message to our military showing our support and our willingness to sacrifice for them. I urge support of this bill on this floor.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this bill, obviously, the fiscal 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. Mr. Chairman, I am proud that we have this piece of legislation. It is our fifth appropriations bill of this year on the floor today. It is the next step in our ongoing effort to fully fund the government before the end of the fiscal year, as is our congressional duty. This bill, as the chairman has said, funds a wide range of Federal programs that affect every citizen of every district of every State. From the transportation infrastructure that moves goods, people, and businesses around the country to the housing options that help most those in need, the benefits of the programs in this bill are felt far and wide. In total, the bill provides $55.3 billion in discretionary spending due to reduced offsets, including lower FHA receipts. The bill represents a $25 million increase above the current year. This is a tight budget, Mr. Chairman. Yet the bill targets funds to provide adequate investments in critical infrastructure and much- relied-upon housing programs. Of the total, $17.2 billion goes toward discretionary funding for DOT, prioritizing projects that have great benefits to our Nation as a whole and that will help make this Nation's transportation systems safer and more efficient. This includes $15.9 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration. A portion of that money will go to what is called the NextGen program to improve efficiency in our airways and reduce congestion and delays. The Federal highway program gets $40.2 billion from the highway trust fund, an amount equal to last year, but that is subject to continued authorization. This funding will ensure our roadways, bridges, and tunnels can safely and smoothly facilitate the flow of American commerce. The Federal Railroad Administration is funded at $1.4 billion. That includes $289 million for Amtrak operations, the same as last year, and $850 million for capital grants, as well as $187 million for critical safety and research programs. Total FRA funding is reduced by $262 million, but rail safety, which is so important, is held harmless from any reductions. In fact, safety was a priority throughout the bill, and that is evident in the funding levels. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received $6.5 million more than last year, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration receives a $6.9 million bump up to help address safety concerns regarding the transport of energy products. Beyond these important infrastructure investments, the bill also includes a total of $42 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This level will guarantee that all individuals and families currently receiving housing assistance will continue to be served by this program, and it ensures that the 77,000 VASH vouchers which support our veterans remain in circulation. Important housing programs for some of our most vulnerable citizens, the elderly and persons with disabilities, also receive targeted increases. To help bolster economic growth in local communities, the bill provides $6.4 billion in grant funding for economic development. Investing in our communities through programs like Community Development Block Grants will allow funds to be targeted to local areas to meet their unique needs. Now, as with all appropriations bills, particularly in these tight budget times, we had to take a close look at what was mission critical and what was lower on the priority list. Some tough choices had to be made and some programs had to be reduced. Overall, I believe this bill puts everything in its proper place and does the very best within its allotted resources. I want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, Congressman Diaz- Balart. This is his maiden voyage as a cardinal, a chairman of a subcommittee, his first voyage at sea. We hope it is a safe and smooth one. And I am proud to say to him, ``Job well done so far.'' So we wish for you the very best. Thanks to David Price and the members of the committee, subcommittee, all the staff; my counterpart Mrs. Lowey. I thank all of you for working hard on this bill. I am proud to support this bill, and I ask my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I thank Chairman Culberson for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to announce my support of this bill. It contains $51.4 billion for effective, proven programs within the Departments of Justice and Commerce, as well as NASA and the National Science Foundation. Within that total, funding is targeted at programs that are vital to our economic development, our public safety, and national security. These important programs, overall, receive a boost of $1.3 billion over last year, allowing us to make critical investments in law enforcement, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and science and research activities. For example, the legislation increases funding for the Department of Justice by $852 million above last year's levels, enhancing the way we protect and secure communities across the Nation. That increase will provide the FBI with greater resources to fight terrorism and cyber crime. It will also allow the DEA to amplify activities, including $372 million to combat prescription drug abuse, what the CDC calls a national epidemic that is taking more lives than car wrecks. Funding is targeted to high-priority national grants with increases for violence against women programs and the Byrne JAG Program. The bill also creates a new community trust initiative that will help improve the safety of communities across the Nation and work to facilitate a supportive relationship between these local communities and the police. This includes funding for body camera pilots and research, training, justice reform efforts, and upgraded statistics collection. Mr. Chairman, the bill also directs funding toward key programs that will help secure America's role as the leader in scientific innovation, grow our economy, and promote job creation. For instance, NASA receives a $519 million increase above last year, keeping us on the forefront of the space frontier. The National Science Foundation receives a $50 million increase, directing funds to programs that will spur U.S. economic competitiveness. To help protect communities from devastating natural disasters, we provided $5.2 billion for NOAA to help boost weather warning and forecasting efforts. As with any appropriations bill, Mr. Chairman, the committee had to make some tough choices to live within a tight budget allocation, but that is what the Appropriations Committee does. We make hard decisions. I believe that this bill does that in a very responsible way, eliminating unnecessary or unneeded programs, reducing funding for other lower-priority programs. This sort of smart budgeting will help improve the way our government operates and show that we can live within our means. Mr. Chairman, I want to congratulate Chairman Culberson for his successful first go as chairman of this subcommittee. He wanted this tour and is happy to have it and is doing a good job with it, Mr. Chairman, and I am proud of him. I think he and Ranking Member Fattah and their subcommittee have drafted a good bill that I am proud to have before the House today. As always, I want to thank the staff for their tireless work in drafting and bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, this is the fourth appropriations bill we have brought to the floor this year, and I am glad we are progressing at a great pace on these very important bills. I am told that this is the earliest and quickest start to appropriations bills in recorded history. I am proud of the work that our committee is doing and, I think, doing good work. So I urge my colleagues to continue this forward momentum and vote in favor of this very important and very well done Commerce, Justice, Science funding bill.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. I thank the chairman for yielding. It is no secret, Mr. Chairman, that there is a strain on our Nation's prison system. As the inmate population continues to rise, our prisons get more and more crowded every day. As the inmate population continues to rise, with 216,000 individuals currently serving Federal sentences, our prisons get more and more crowded every day. At the end of fiscal 2013--listen to this--25 percent of our medium security inmates and 85 percent of our low security inmates were triple bunked--triple bunked. Considering that 8 out of every 10 medium security inmates has a history of violence, this creates some very serious questions about the safety of the BOP staff, the public, and even other inmates. Updating our prisons will provide greater efficiency and staffing and permits staff to safely oversee more inmates. Our medium and maximum security prisons house some of the world's most dangerous and violent criminals. The bill before us provides critical funding to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in order to modernize and strengthen our Nation's prison infrastructure. These funds will help protect the public as well as the men and women who work at these facilities. It is imperative that we provide them a safe and secure environment within which to work. The Federal Government has a commitment to keep the public and prison staff safe, and these dollars are needed to fulfill that commitment. So I oppose this effort to reduce funding for the Bureau of Prisons and urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Chairman Graves, thank you for yielding the time, and thank you for the great work. This is the first bill that Chairman Graves has brought to the floor of the House. He is the newest cardinal that we have, one of the 12 subcommittee chairmen--they are called cardinals--and this is his first bill. I want to congratulate him and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for putting together what I think is a pretty high standard for fiscal responsibility for the House, freezing funding at last year's level, $3.3 billion. That is the third year in a row, Mr. Chairman, that we have frozen the budget of the House of Representatives, making good on our promise to rein in spending and do more with less. This level maintains the 14 percent reduction in House funding that began when Republicans took control of the House 4 years ago. In addition, we have continued the freeze on Member pay that has been in place since 2010. We believe that in order for us to ask others to sacrifice throughout the government, that we have to sacrifice, ourselves, first; and that is what this bill does. The bill includes numerous provisions designed to guarantee that the House and its support agencies are spending their tax dollars appropriately and to keep them accountable to the taxpayers. This includes enhancing oversight of the Cannon building restoration project and making sure that Congress approves any large-scale construction project. These steps will help ensure that this type of major undertaking stays on time and on budget and are especially important given the historical significance of our buildings and the importance of their use. The $3.3 billion this bill provides for the House is directed to support the most important functions of our legislative branch: keeping our Member and committee offices open for business, protecting the safety of those who work in and visit the Capitol complex, and improving the way we support our agencies--and the importance of doing just that. For instance, the Capitol Police budget has been increased by $21 million to ensure our men in blue have the resources needed to protect this hallowed building and its grounds. And where we have seen issues in the agencies funded by the bill--for example, IT infrastructure challenges at the Library of Congress--we have taken the steps to make sure that these will be fixed moving forward. Again, I want to thank Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, and this great staff that has worked hard on this bill. They have demonstrated their love of this institution and these grounds by the hard work and devotion they have put into making this bill possible. So we want to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for putting together this small but mighty bill. So I thank them for all of their work. Mr. Chairman, I am proud that the House can lead by example when it comes to restoring fiscal discipline to the operations of the Federal Government. This bill will allow the House to fulfill its core duties within a responsible, realistic budget and preserve the democracy that makes this Nation so great. I thank the chairman for the time.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Kentucky River Coal Corporation, marking a major milestone in its long and important history in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Kentucky River Coal Corporation was formed in April 1915, creating a land company with a large ownership of land, timber, coal, oil and gas and other minerals in eastern Kentucky. Congregating larger boundaries of mineral properties made possible the arduous construction and development of the first railroad into eastern Kentucky and resulted in mineral extraction entities employing thousands of people in the region. As with most American companies and people, Kentucky River Coal Corporation struggled through the Great Depression, but stood strong through the First and Second World Wars, providing the natural resource base that literally helped power America. Timber from its properties was used in the early manufacturing of automobile parts, like wooden spokes, as well as for housing across the country. With the discovery of oil and natural gas, Kentucky River Coal Corporation's lands again produced important resources to power the nation. Through the decades since its formation, Kentucky River Coal Corporation has been a model corporate citizen in Kentucky, paying millions of dollars in taxes, and donating to various worthwhile causes. Through its charitable outreach, Kentucky River Coal Corporation has consistently funded important educational programs, established scholarships for students, and made donations to many institutions of higher learning across the state. The company has played an instrumental role in supporting local volunteer fire departments, helping them meet regulatory standards with training and equipment. In effort to support tourism in our region, the company partnered with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife to return the majestic Elk to eastern Kentucky, where the herd now thrives, providing a model for successful reintroduction of wildlife. Additionally, Kentucky River Coal Corporation joined with Operation UNITE to provide over $500,000 in much-needed funding to assist with substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation. Hundreds of families across the region, devastated by a loved one suffering from addiction, have expressed gratitude for the opportunity for treatment that they otherwise could not afford. Over its 100 year history, Kentucky River Coal Corporation's lessees have produced over 580 million tons of high quality central Appalachian coal used for decades in electrical generation and manufacturing across the nation. About one out of every 130 tons of coal produced in the United States over the past 100 years came from Kentucky River Coal Corporation. Over its history, the company has returned millions of dollars in taxes to governments, paid salaries to employees, provided contributions to various charitable and educational institutions, and paid distributions to the shareholders located throughout the United States, generating untold economic benefits to communities and shareholders across the country. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this great milestone for the Kentucky River Coal Corporation. I believe this company is poised for continued growth and success in the natural resources sector, providing energy for a strong America.

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding time. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of this bill, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill for 2016. In doing that, I want to congratulate Chairman Dent, the new chairman of this subcommittee. This is his maiden voyage as chairman of this subcommittee. He is a cardinal now. He has done a great job putting together this bill. I also want to thank Mr. Bishop, the ranking member on the other side, for his cooperation in making this bill what it is today. This is the first bill of the process, and I am pleased that we are off to a very early start--I am told the earliest start since 1974-- continuing our good work from last year. I am optimistic that we are going to have a successful appropriations year, finishing on time and under regular order. We are beginning the year on the right foot with a bipartisan bill, Madam Chairman, that I believe we can all get behind. The FY 2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill includes, as has been said, $76.6 billion in discretionary funding for important veterans benefits and services and for the infrastructure that supports the brave men and women serving in our Armed Forces and their families. This is a total of $4.6 billion over last year. No one can call this a cut and be realistic about it. We have increased the funding by $4.6 billion year-to-year. We can't say that for all the other bills. Yes, we went overboard with what we had to work with in providing funds for the veterans and for military construction. That is a demonstration of our commitment to our warfighters and to our veterans and their loved ones, who sacrifice so much to protect this great Nation. Within the total, the bill includes $7.7 billion for the DOD's construction projects in the U.S. and around the world, which provide our servicemembers with the infrastructure they need to remain at the ready. The legislation also provides a total of $68.7 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. That is a 5.6 percent increase over last year to guarantee the VA has the resources they need to care for every single qualified veteran, including meeting growing healthcare needs. To that end, VA medical services are funded at $3.8 billion above the current level. That will treat 6.9 million eligible patients, providing mental health care, helping prevent suicide, and supporting research into prosthetics and traumatic brain injuries, among numerous other health initiatives. However, it is critical that we make sure the VA is being responsible with these taxpayer dollars. It is clear that the VA is facing some considerable management challenges, and so this bill provides the oversight that will hold the Department accountable for its mistakes and takes the necessary steps to address and correct these problems. For instance, the bill keeps a close eye on how the VA is spending its construction dollars by requiring reports on construction costs, savings, and changes in scope. This is a good bill, Madam Chairman. I urge its adoption.