C. Ruppersberger

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this bipartisan bill. First and foremost, intelligence is about people. We cannot collect, analyze, and utilize intelligence effectively unless we can recruit, hire, and retain the best people possible. Therefore, I want to thank Chairman Nunes and Ranking Member Schiff, and their staffs, for working with me to include provisions in this bill that improve parental leave policies of the intelligence community. These provisions will ensure that these benefits are, to the fullest extent possible, in line with the private sector. Doing so will help the IC develop and retain the workforce required to keep America safe against all our foes, both new and old. This legislation also takes important steps to ensure the IC provides critical updates to Congress in the event the United States faces a foreign cyber attack or other active measures that threaten the heart of our democracy: our elections. There is no doubt that Russia will continue to exert a malign influence on the heart and soul of our democracy. This cannot be tolerated, and I strongly support the efforts of the chairman and ranking member to ensure Congress will be informed of the most critical threats to our democracy. I thank the chairman and ranking member, and the entire intelligence community and staff, for their dedicated oversight of the intelligence community and their commitment to enhancing national security.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, due to my attendance at an event off the Capitol Hill campus, I was unable to make rollcall votes Nos. 162- 166. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: No. 162 ``no'' H.R. 4 On Agreeing to the Amendment, No. 163 ``no'' H.R. 4 On Agreeing to the Amendment, No. 164 ``yes'' H.R. 4 Motion to Recommit and No. 165 ``yes'' H.R. 4 Final Passage of H.R. 4.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, due to my attendance at an event off the Capitol Hill campus, I was unable to make rollcall vote No. 166. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: No. 166 ``no'' On Motion to Table.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment being offered and in support of the underlying bill and the increased oversight in transparency it provides to the body of the intelligence community and the American public that it protects. I thank the ranking member and also Chairman Goodlatte for allowing me to have this time. Mr. Speaker, I want Americans at home to know what this program is not. It is not a dragnet surveillance program; it is not a program that could ever be used to target Americans; and it is not an unchecked intelligence tool. In fact, it may be one of the most heavily overseen programs that we have. This bill strengthens that accountability. As former ranking member of the Intelligence Committee and Representative of the district that is home to NSA, I have taken many of my colleagues in this Chamber on trips to NSA so that they can see firsthand how these programs work to protect Americans and also to protect our freedom and civil liberties. This is not a debate on constitutionality. The Federal courts have affirmed that this program's current authorization and operation are legal and consistent with the Fourth Amendment. This body has voted several times with bipartisan majorities to reauthorize it.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote 631, I inadvertently pressed ``nay'' on the recording device. I intended to vote ``yea'' On Agreeing to the Conference Report to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. personal explanation

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, due to my attendance at an event off the Capitol Hill campus, I was unable to make Roll Call vote No. 545. Had I been present, I would have voted aye.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the life and legacy of Andrew ``Andy'' Riendeau Goodwin, a Maryland National Guardsman and member of the Abingdon Fire Company. A native of Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and a resident of Abingdon, Maryland, he was the son of Timothy Riendeau and Elizabeth Goodwin. Andy attended Harford Community College where he earned an Associate of Arts Degree after graduating from Aberdeen High School as the Captain of his soccer, lacrosse and wrestling teams. Andy was a member and Sergeant of the Abingdon Fire Company of Abingdon, Maryland. A proud member of a military family, on October 2, 2015, Andy enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard and was assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment as a 15F, Aircraft Electrician, where he developed a passion for the helicopter unit and earned numerous commendations, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Basic Aviation Badge. Andy had a passion for the outdoors and enjoyed hiking, camping, fishing, and clay shooting. He was not only a cherished uncle, but a role model to his niece and nephews. He is survived by his brother, sister, nephews, niece, and grandparents. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of Andy Riendeau Goodwin and that of his family. It is with great sadness that I mourn his loss and commemorate Suicide Awareness Month. Today I humbly express my condolences to his family and wish them peace and comfort in the days ahead.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce and welcome to Washington, Maryland State Delegate Ric Metzgar, a friend for a long time, Second District resident, who has been representing eastern Baltimore County in the Maryland General Assembly since 2015. He has been serving his community far longer. Delegate Metzgar has lived in Essex for most of his life, graduating from Kenwood High School before attending Northwest Bible College. His father worked for the Glenn L. Martin airplane community, and his mother owned a drycleaning business. Delegate Metzgar managed a local car dealership and a diner, and, as an ordained minister, he has served as a ministry leader and Sunday school director for several local churches. He founded Gateway Pastors and Churches Association. In Annapolis, Delegate Metzgar serves on the Health and Government Operations Committee as well as the Maryland Veterans Caucus. His volunteer efforts within his community are unending. Delegate Metzgar has long served as chair of the Essex Christmas parade and co-chair of the massive Essex Day Festival. He is a member of the board of directors for the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River. Delegate Metzgar is married with two children and two grandchildren. I am honored to call Delegate Metzgar a friend and constituent of the Second Congressional District of Maryland, and I offer sincere thanks on behalf of this entire body for his delivery of today's opening player.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, due to my attendance at an event off the Capitol Hill campus, I was unable to make Roll Call vote No. 135. Had I been present, I would have voted Aye.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. I thank Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Visclosky for bringing this bill to the floor. This bill helps to close gaps in readiness while making investments in research and development. These investments are critically important because I guarantee our adversaries know where we have work to do. Mr. Speaker, I represent a congressional district home to two Army bases, the NSA, several National Guard facilities, and dozens of our private sector partners. I serve on the board of the United States Naval Academy, and I co-chair the Army Caucus. My experience tells me we are living in a world that has changed since our Armed Forces entered the Middle East 16 years ago. While our men and women in uniform fought asymmetric foes, our near-peer adversaries such as Russia and China made advancements in technology that threaten to degrade our military qualitative advantage. This appropriations bill ensures our troops are ready and that we have enough of them to get the job done. It fully funds the new end strength number and allows for a 2.1 percent pay raise for our troops. This is the least we can do for the brave men and women who sacrifice for our country. This bill also deters Russian aggression by fully funding the European Reassurance Initiative, and makes critical investments in missile defense technology. This bill is a solid start, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it, but there is still work to be done. Our troops should trust that elected officials will support them and do their job to fund the government, just as we trust them to accomplish the mission assigned to them. Band-Aid budgets are bad for everyone--our partners in industry, the American taxpayers, and especially our Armed Forces. Now is not the time to argue over partisan issues. Congress should create a frontline of support for our Armed Forces that is just as strong as the frontline our soldiers have created to protect us. I call on all of my colleagues to work in a bipartisan fashion to pass this and the other FY17 appropriation bills as quickly as possible.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, we live in a dangerous world, and the President needs a National Security Adviser who isn't under a cloud of suspicion. But this resignation isn't the end. Americans now deserve to know if General Flynn was operating under anyone else's authority. The American people deserve to know if Russia has financial, personal, or political grip on President Trump or his campaign. I am urging the agencies involved in the investigation to continue their important work vigorously. I also ask my colleagues in House leadership to launch a bipartisan, independent congressional investigation into Russia's influence on the election and the new administration. Lastly, I once again am calling on President Trump to remove his cheap political strategist, Steve Bannon, from the National Security Council and reinstate the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to restore some semblance of respectability to the organization's structure.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute Senator Barbara Mikulski, the longtime quarterback of Team Maryland, on the occasion of her well-deserved retirement after nearly four decades in Congress. Senator Mikulski has truly made history, both by her extraordinary longevity and her tenacious leadership. She is the longest serving woman in the Senate, and the first Democratic woman elected to the Chamber in her own right. Barbara and I bonded over our shared passion for local government. We both know it is where the rubber meets the road, and we both believe that all politics is local. That is what has made her so popular and so effective. We have both worked hand in hand as appropriators, Senator Mikulski as the ranking member of her respective committee. She has worked tirelessly for critical resources to improve our roads, schools, and police, to create jobs and create opportunities. There are two things about Senator Mikulski that have always impressed me in her public service: First, she always relates to her father's corner store on South Eden Street in Baltimore City. When he opened his doors each day, he would say, ``How may I help you?'' Senator Mikulski often quotes that mantra and, more importantly, lives by it every day of her life for the people of the State of Maryland. The other thing that impresses me is a saying she always says, ``It is not about the building.'' Senator Mikulski has never cared about the bricks and mortar. She cares about the people who work inside the building, what they can do, how they help the citizens, and how she can help them. Barbara, for all you have done for Baltimore, for Maryland, and for the country, the words ``thank you'' just don't seem enough. I am very proud to call you my friend and mentor, and I wish you all the best in the days ahead.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I missed the following votes during leave of absence for medical reasons: ``Yes'' on rollcall 479: HR.R. 5578--Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016. ``Yes'' on rollcall 480: H.R. 3881--Cooperative Management of Mineral Rights Act of 2016.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Dr. Ella White Campbell--a passionate educator who devoted her life to improving the lives of her neighbors. A South Carolina native, Dr. Campbell moved to Maryland at a young age and graduated at the top of her class from the historic Wiley H. Bates High School in Annapolis while helping to care for her siblings. She later earned three degrees--including one Doctoral Degree--from Morgan State University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland. Dr. Campbell began her teaching career at a middle school in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Baltimore City, where residents were so impressed with her leadership abilities, they asked her/ take over the local recreation center. She eventually chaired the city's English Department and was promoted to Assistant Principal. She helped design a curriculum that increased test scores of hundreds of students. You would be hard pressed to find a community organization that Dr. Campbell did not, at some point, belong to or lead. While too numerous to mention in their entirety, Dr Campbell was President of the Gwynnvale Civic Association, President of the Liberty Road Community Council, President of the Liberty Randallstown Coalition, President of the Stevenswood Improvement Association and Founder of the Randallstown NAACP chapter. Dr. Campbell advocated tirelessly for better schools, recreation facilities, libraries and public transportation in her community. I had the privilege of working with Dr. Campbell for many years. Believe me, you did not want to find yourself on the wrong side of Dr. Campbell because you can bet she had already briefed the community on her position--and convinced them to agree. She was instrumental in securing $1 million to implement the Liberty Road Streetscape Project, helped to stop area flooding through the Red Run Dam project and established the Liberty Assistance Center for county residents in need. A decorated member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Dr. Campbell is listed in the Who's Who in The East, Who's Who in America and Community Leaders of the World. Perhaps most importantly, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Ella White Campbell. Although she will be sorely missed, Dr. Campbell's impact on Baltimore County and people's lives--including my own--will last forever. She was a true inspiration.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize Colonel Bert Rice--a United States veteran and dedicated civilian employee--on the occasion of his retirement after more than 60 years of service to his country. A Montana native, Colonel Rice joined the U.S. Army Reserves as a private in 1956. He earned his degree from Montana State University and, as an ROTC distinguished graduate, was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of infantry in 1959. He went on to achieve his Master's Degree in supervision and management at Central Michigan University in 1977. Colonel Rice's highly decorated active duty career spanned 30 years, including two tours of duty in Vietnam, where he flew armed helicopters and, in his second tour, commanded Company B, 25th Aviation Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. Colonel Rice also served in Iran during its revolution in 1979. His many stateside assignments include three years with the Pentagon. In 2003, Colonel Rice was hired by the Department of the Army at Fort Meade, Maryland, where he worked until his recent retirement. He served as project officer and program manager for several important efforts that included infrastructure improvements and the major BRAC undertaking that brought thousands of new jobs to the base and the region. While too numerous to mention in their entirety, Colonel Rice's military decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with OLC, Bronze Star with OLC, Joint Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal with OLC. He also has many civilian accolades. Colonel Rice's many volunteer efforts reflect the servant-hearted manner in which he approached every aspect of his life. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Military Order of World Wars, an organization for retired military. In 2007, Colonel Rice was named Greater Odenton Improvement Association's Citizen of the Year for his community service. Colonel Rice is a dedicated husband to his wife of 56 years and a committed father to two Army combat veterans. He also has four grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege of personally knowing Colonel Rice since his days serving on the Anne Arundel County Council. I know him to be a hard-working, patriotic and ever-helpful community leader. I ask that you join with me today to honor Colonel Bert Rice, whose life of service to the United States is deserving of our deepest gratitude. It is with great pride that I congratulate him on his retirement and wish him many more years of continued success and happiness.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the provision contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 to upgrade the U.S. Cyber Command to a unified combatant command. The United States Cyber Command, which is located in my district at Fort Meade, Maryland, has been tasked with one of the greatest challenges of our times. Every day, its cyber warriors are protecting us from our enemies plotting to compromise our military networks and critical infrastructure. Recently, they were given their first wartime assignment in the fight against ISIS. The demand for cyber warfare capabilities has been so high that CYBERCOM teams that are not even officially operational yet are contributing to the mission, according to its chief, Admiral Mike Rogers. That need is only going to increase and we must give it the power and resources it needs to better protect our country. Elevating CYBERCOM as a Unified Combatant Command recognizes the fact that cyberspace is the battlefield of the 21st Century. Warfare is not just on land, at sea, or in the skies and space--but in cyberspace. Just as our special operations command is able to quickly and deftly perform some of our toughest covert missions, it only makes sense to have a command that can respond nimbly to cyber threats and organize our offensive and defensive efforts. I agree wholeheartedly with Admiral Rogers, who has said this designation would allow his Command to be faster with better mission outcomes. We must not forget that the other half of his responsibility, the National Security Agency, already enjoys an excellent and essential working relationship with CYBERCOM. We must ensure that any reorganization strengthens this relationship. I am proud to represent both agencies in Congress and am confident Maryland and the Second District is amply prepared to assist with the infrastructure needs that accompany any growth.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge House leadership to take action against the scourge of opioid addiction that is plaguing our communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses now surpass car accidents as the leading cause of injury- related death for Americans between the ages of 25 and 65. In Baltimore, opioid overdose has been declared a public health emergency. There are about 19,000 active heroin users in Baltimore City, and far more who abuse prescription opioids. But this isn't just an urban issue. I have personally heard from families from all walks of life throughout my district that have been devastated by heroin and prescription drugs. No socioeconomic level is safe. To this end, I urge leadership to move the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act forward. Among other measures, this important bipartisan bill will expand the availability of naloxone to law enforcement agencies and other first responders to help reverse overdoses, expand resources to identify and treat incarcerated individuals suffering from addiction, and expand disposal sites for unused prescription medications to keep them out of the hands of young people. Only through a comprehensive approach can we stop and reverse current trends.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the life and legacy of Captain Timothy A. Brown, a Merchant Marine who served in the Vietnam War and a leader in Maryland's maritime industry. Captain Brown served as International President of the Masters, Mates & Pilots for more than two decades before passing away at the age of 73 while living in Maryland. Raised in both Ohio and Florida, Captain Brown graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1965. He then joined the Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P), splitting his time between shipping and attending Graduate School at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was awarded two degrees in 1974. Captain Brown's first MM&P vessel was the SS Fruitvale Hills, sailing as a deck cadet on the SS Del Oro for Delta Steamship Lines. He first sailed as master aboard the Sealand Consumer for Sealand Service Inc. in 1983. His last command as master was aboard the same vessel in 1991. He then took on a leadership role with the MM&P as an insurgent candidate, later serving the organization as International President for six terms. Under his guidance, the badly-fractured organization stabilized. Captain Brown was a passionate advocate and masterful negotiator for the MM&P membership. Thanks to tireless efforts, Captain Brown expanded and improved the healthcare plans offered to members, pensioners and their families. Upon retiring in 2013, Captain Brown left the organization with a reputation for its professionalism and unity. Friends describe Captain Brown as generous, thoughtful and open- hearted. He was considered a mentor and father-figure to many young mariners and MM&P staff. While too numerous to mention in their entirety, Captain Brown's awards and accolades include the Admiral of the Ocean Seas Award and the Father Lalonde Spirit of the Seas Award. He was also admitted to the Port of New York and New Jersey's International Maritime Hall of Fame in 2009 and was named a Commodore of the U.S. Maritime by order of President Barack Obama. He was named President Emeritus of Masters, Mates & Pilots by Delegates to the 84th MM&P Convention. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to acknowledge the service and dedication of Captain Timothy A. Brown to his country and the entire maritime industry. I humbly express my condolences to his friends and family and wish them peace and comfort in the days ahead.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to honor the life and legacy of Col. Fred Vann Cherry, an Air Force fighter pilot who spent seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Colonel Cherry passed away recently at the age of 87 while living in Maryland. A native of Suffolk, Virginia, Colonel Cherry was born to farmers on March 24, 1928. He attended the racially segregated schools of the Jim Crow South and graduated in 1951 from Virginia Union University, a historically black college in Richmond. He then joined the Air Force. Colonel Cherry was a Major who had served more than 100 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam when his bomber was hit by enemy fire in October 1965. He suffered significant injuries while ejecting and was captured immediately upon landing. He spent 702 days in solitary confinement and endured torture at the hands of our enemies. Colonel Cherry was the first and highest-ranking black officer to become a prisoner in Vietnam. Colonel Cherry credited his survival to a fellow POW who, in turn, credited Colonel Cherry with his. The two wrote a book about their friendship and gave joint talks at military institutions and colleges. Colonel Cherry was also featured in a documentary narrated by Tom Hanks about Vietnam fighter pilots held as POWs. Colonel Cherry later attended the National War College and the Defense Intelligence School in Washington. After more than 30 years of service, he retired from the Air Force in 1981 as a decorated joint staff officer assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency. He then started his own engineering company. While too numerous to mention in their entirety, Colonel Cherry's awards and accolades include two Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and the Air Force Cross, which recognizes ``extraordinary heroism,'' ``personal fortitude'' in the face of severe enemy harassment and torture and suffering critical injuries. A scholarship in his name is given annually by the Suffolk Foundation. Colonel Cherry has remained a dedicated father to his five children, three of which also enlisted in our Armed Forces. He died as a grandfather to 14 and a great-grandfather to six. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join with me today to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of Colonel Cherry and that of his family. I humbly express my condolences to his family and wish them peace and comfort in the days ahead.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the national cybersecurity strategy included in the President's budget proposal for fiscal year 2017. This is a solid framework that includes a 35 percent increase for cyber and a new high-level official focused solely on implementing a cyber strategy across the entire Federal Government. Cyber hackers are costing American companies billions of dollars in intellectual property every year. Terrorists, like ISIS, organized criminals, and even state actors, such as Iran and North Korea, are honing their cyber skills, which could put our country at critical risk, including infrastructure shutdowns. For years, I have advocated for a Cabinet-level cyber position with budget authority because the cyber threat is so severe. This new official should have real authority to drive change across the Federal Government. We must also continue working on issues still unaddressed, such as the insider threat posed by people within the government. An example of that is Edward Snowden, who gave stolen American information to Russia and China. This is especially critical in the wake of a data breach affecting more than 22 million current, former, and prospective Federal employees last June. I urge my colleagues to support this priority.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to congratulate William ``Brit'' Kirwan on the occasion of his retirement after 12 years as chancellor of the University System of Maryland. As a Terp myself, I have always taken a deep interest in the leadership of the university system and have come to admire Brit's integrity, professionalism and expertise. Not only is Brit respected academically, he has a great personality and he understands the importance of relationships with elected leaders. His political savvy has helped the university system become a critical economic and workforce development engine in the State of Maryland. Brit has become a sought-after mentor to other university leaders in areas including college affordability--especially for minority and low- income students--as well as cost containment, innovation in the classroom and diversity. I truly believe that Brit's vision has helped the University System of Maryland become one of the best in the nation. Under his leadership, the university system has: become more affordable. The average tuition for undergraduate in-state students at university institutions, once the nation's seventh highest, has now dropped to twenty-sixth. His leadership has strengthened need-based financial aid. It has reduced the student achievement gap and even eliminated it on some campuses. It has strengthened Maryland's competitiveness through the research and entrepreneurial efforts of faculty, staff and students. It has developed the landmark ``Effectiveness and Efficiency initiative,'' which has improved quality while saving more than $460 million to date and has even been cited by President Obama as a national model. It has made the university system a national leader in environmental sustainability. It has improved college completion rates, especially among low-income and minority students. Brit has also become known for his use of technology to rejuvenate traditional learning methods like the lecture hall. His efforts have increased the number of students showing up for class, eager to learn, while saving money and raising grades. Let's not forget that Brit spent a quarter century as an educator and administrator prior to becoming Chancellor. Throughout each stage of his career--math professor, administrator, university president, and chancellor--Brit has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and access for all. Brit's expertise benefits colleges around the country as a member of the Board of Directors of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. He chairs the College Board's Commission on Access, Admissions, and Success in Higher Education; and is a member of the Business-Higher Education Forum. He was also appointed by President George W. Bush to the Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In 2010, he was appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, which advises the U.S. Secretary of Education on accreditation issues and certification processes for colleges and universities. Locally, Brit is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Baltimore Committee, the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, and the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education. He is the well-deserved recipient of too many awards and accolades to list in their entirety, but they include the Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence, which is considered one of the nation's top higher education honors. In 2009, he received the Carnegie Corporation Leadership Award, which included a $500,000 grant to fund University System of Maryland academic priorities. I consider him a personal friend. He is a true gentlemen and each of his day-to-day interactions are marked with civility and graciousness. This is a rare quality in today's world. He leaves big shoes to fill. I congratulate him on a spectacular career that has spanned more than a half-century and wish him many more years of happiness with his wife and family in his retirement.

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I was not able to vote today for medical reasons. Had I been present on rollcall vote 666, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 667, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 668, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 669, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 670, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 671, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 672, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 673, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Madam Speaker, I was not able to vote today for medical reasons. Had I been present on rollcall vote 653, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 654, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 655, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 656, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 657, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 658, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 659, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 660, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 661, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 662, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 663, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 664, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 665, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I was not able to vote today for medical reasons. Had I been present on rollcall vote 646, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 647, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 648, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 649, I would have voted ``yes.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 650, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 651, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present on rollcall vote 652, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER

Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, as a lawmaker who has dedicated the last 12 years to working on issues of national security, I have spent thousands of hours in classified briefings on threats both domestic and abroad. I have traveled to dozens of terrorism hotspots around the globe, meeting with foreign dignitaries and our intelligence workers on the front lines. No one more strongly believes that our first and most important responsibility is the protection of all Americans. We must always scrutinize any foreigner who wants to enter our country for any reason. Today, the highest level of security screening of any category traveler or immigrant belongs to refugees. Those screenings involve health checks, biometric tests to confirm identity and multiple layers of background checks along with in-person interviews by specially trained Department of Homeland Security officers. The process involves not only DHS but the National Counterterrorism Center, the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center, the State Department and the Department of Defense, each of which must certify the refugee's status at every stage. If a refugee's background or identity cannot be confirmed at any point, their application ends. Syrian refugees receive an additional layer of screening, culminating in a process that usually takes 18 to 24 months before they set foot on U.S. soil, if they are even approved. As a security expert, I know that most terrorists already live in the U.S. or they come via illegal means. But it would be far easier for terrorists to enter the country legally on a tourist visa or through the visa waiver program if they are citizens of eligible nations, including France and Belgium, which is where the Paris attackers were citizens. It is important to note that the legislation under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives applies only to Syrian and Iraqi refugees--but not refugees from other countries with known terror networks including Yemen, Nigeria and Afghanistan. I am not convinced this bill would protect our country from foreign enemies any more than existing processes and procedures. Since 2001, only about 2,200 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the United States. Half are children and another quarter is over the age of 60. These refugees are victims of the same terrorists we are trying to defeat. Banning them would not only do nothing to strengthen our national security, it would fuel the anti-American sentiment that strengthens ISIS. The best way to address the refugee crisis is by removing the threat. For these reasons, I oppose the American SAFE Act of 2015 and support the Secure Refugee Process Act of 2015.