Keith Rothfus

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the holidays, I want to take a moment to talk about a difficult subject: suicide. Suicide is epidemic in our Nation. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is currently the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, ending 48,000 lives in 2017. For those who are suffering, you need to know you are not alone and there are many who care about you. There is hope for healing. Every person was created for a purpose, though it may be difficult at times for a person to find that purpose. One of the most basic, and often most effective, ways to help prevent suicide is to ensure that our loved ones, friends, colleagues, and anyone else in our lives feels connected and has a sense of belonging. There is great virtue in reaching out to the marginalized and neglected, especially young people who may be lonely or bullied. For those who are despondent and having suicidal thoughts, services like the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is vital. The hotline is a free support service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800- 273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK. As we enter this season of hope, let those who are hopeless encounter the encouragement that everyone needs.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, which will continue operations for several Federal agencies and, importantly, appropriate funds to be used in securing the southern border. We have talked for years about securing our border. This is important for the entire Nation. My perspective comes from representing a district hard-hit with the opioid epidemic. Mexico and the United States have a mutual interest in securing our border. Heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamines, and other narcotics flow northbound while, importantly, illicit cash is flowing southbound. This illicit cash is fueling a reign of terror by Mexican drug cartels that have murdered more than 200,000 Mexico citizens over the last 10 years, and only 5 percent of them have been prosecuted. They have killed priests. They have killed journalists. They have killed students. And they have killed each other. There are mass graves all over Mexico. Mr. Speaker, we need to secure that border for the benefit of both countries. It is past time we do this, and I ask support for this legislation.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, it was a fitting end to an outstanding season for the Aliquippa High School football team. They were victorious in 14 of their 15 games. The Quips, led by their new head coach and former quarterback, Mike Warfield, fought their way to a resounding victory as they became Class 3A State football champions. The 35-0 win against Middletown High School resulted in the Quips' third PIAA State championship. The Aliquippa football team has been a perennial contender for State football titles. This season, a powerhouse offense outscored teams by more than 700 points, and a formidable defense shut out 7 of their 15 opponents. The Quips team also won the WPIAL championship, and Coach Warfield became only the third coach in WPIAL history to win a State championship in his first year. Congratulations to Aliquippa High School, Coach Warfield, the coaching staff, and the team for their outstanding achievement. They have made western Pennsylvania proud.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Army Sergeant Jason Mitchell McClary, a western Pennsylvania native who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the line of duty. Sergeant McClary grew up in Export, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Lillie, graduated from Kiski Area High School in 2013. A true patriot as a student, Jason dreamed of serving his country. In January 2014, he achieved his dream and enlisted in the Army. Jason went on to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Purple Hearts and three Army Commendation Medals, including one for valor and one for combat. Tragically, this courageous soldier was taken from us too soon. On November 27, 2018, Jason was injured from an IED explosion and died 5 days later, leaving behind two little sons, a heartbroken wife, and a grieving community of family and friends. Jason is fondly remembered as a loving father, devoted husband, and hardworking soldier. May the good Lord welcome home this son of western Pennsylvania with open arms, and may He bless Jason's family with peace and consolation.

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Air Force Staff Sergeant Dylan James Elchin, who gave his life for our country on November 27, 2018, while serving in Afghanistan. Dylan was born in 1993 and raised in western Pennsylvania, graduating from Hopewell High School in 2012. Military service was already calling him at a young age as he read of special operations when he was 14 years old. He enlisted upon graduating from high school. The commanding officer of Dylan's 26th Special Tactics Squadron said Dylan ``had an unusual drive to succeed and contribute to the team. He displayed maturity and stoicism beyond his years and was always level- headed, no matter the situation.'' Dylan leaves behind a grieving fiancee and family, and we as a nation, more than 300 million strong, must now stand behind them and all who have fallen for our country. May Dylan rest in the peace of God, and may his fiancee and family know his tender mercies. Honoring Army Sergeant Jason McClary

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, since the House of Representatives moved into this very Chamber in 1857, the people's Representatives have debated the great issues of the day. The Speaker's rostrum behind me was redesigned after World War II and words were added to the bottom level that speak to noble aspirations of our Nation: union, justice, tolerance, liberty, and peace. These words are not the fundamental principles upon which our Nation was founded, but are, I suggest, the fruits of those principles. Consequently, if our founding principles are eroded, these fruits will be eroded as well. Over recent decades, our Nation has endured a great and ongoing debate that, at its heart, goes to the continuing relevance of our Nation's founding principles. And what are those principles? They are in our Declaration of Independence. ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.'' ``The consent of the governed.'' These five words recognize that our Nation's sovereignty is in her people--not the government, not the legislative branch, not the judicial branch, not the executive branch or the Federal bureaucracy, but in the people. Sovereignty in the people was, indeed, revolutionary in 1776, and it is at the heart of the notion of self-government. This sovereignty in the people, however, is not absolute. It is restrained by a higher law that acknowledges that certain of our rights come from our Creator and are inalienable, among them, the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights do not come from or depend on government, or what a majority of people electing the government decide. They require, however, that the government protect them. Sovereignty is further restrained by the higher law that we are created equal. Our laws should not favor one person over another. All are to be equal before the law, and there must be a fair playing field where all are given the opportunity to develop their God-given gifts and talents. These concepts, Mr. Speaker, are not just founding principles. These are truths, self-evident truths. There are many today who challenge the notion of truth and claim everything is relative. But the Founders recognized the self-evident truths of the Declaration in establishing this country. Our Founders built on these principles when they adopted our Constitution and Bill of Rights which limited the power of the Federal Government. The Founders understood that the bigger government became, the more it would infringe on the principles in our Declaration. It was appealing to our founding principles that our Nation was able to correct the defect in our Constitution that denied equal rights and liberty to those held in slavery. But some current political views reject the framework of sovereignty in the people, and that such sovereignty is limited by God-given rights and freedoms. Some decry our Constitution's structure as being a charter of negative liberties. For example, Barack Obama, prior to becoming President said that our Constitution, `` . . . says what the States can't do to you. Says what the Federal Government can't do to you, but doesn't say what the Federal Government or State government must do on your behalf.'' If you don't like what the Constitution says, there is a process to amend it. And those who would advocate for the government to do things, should go through the process of proposing amendments. Those who are Progressives believe that they can better order a society than can a free people relying on their God-given rights to life and liberty. But this is inconsistent with the notion of self- government. Progressives believe in the power of government. The power of government should be used to protect rights, not infringe or abridge them. What Progressives miss is how the power of government can destroy communities and lives and infringe upon God-given freedoms, which we have seen in recent decades. It is the power of the government acting through the Supreme Court that denied the very first right recognized in our Declaration, the right to life, for an entire class of human beings. To be clear, insisting on universality of the God-given right to life is not an establishment of religion. It is simply an affirmation of a self-evident truth described in our Declaration of Independence. It is the power of government that put through great society programs that undermine the family and dramatically increased societal challenges as a result. It is the power of government that targeted the American energy industry, threatening hundreds of jobs in my district. It is the power of government that took away healthcare plans that people liked, and the power of government that went after the Little Sisters of the Poor. Rather than looking to the power of government, perhaps we should look to the power of the people. Rightly understood, government should not be looked at as a vehicle for wielding power, but for serving and protecting the rights in our Declaration and Constitution. It is never out of season to rediscover those principles. This is what Abraham Lincoln called upon us to do at another divided time in our Nation. In an 1858 speech in Lewistown, Illinois, Lincoln said, `` . . . if you have been taught doctrines conflicting with the great landmarks of the Declaration of Independence; if you have listened to suggestions which would take away from its grandeur, and mutilate the fair symmetry of its proportions; if you have been inclined to believe that all men are not created equal in those inalienable rights enumerated by our chart of liberty, let me entreat you to come back . . . come back to the truths that are in the Declaration of Independence.'' If we want union, let us unite around the principles of the Declaration. If we want justice, let us work for equality for all while protecting the right to life of every human being, no matter their age or state of dependency. If we want tolerance, let us appreciate that while we, indeed, have differences, we should not demonize those with whom we disagree. If the Little Sisters of the Poor, or a small business, or a private citizen for that matter, hold sincerely held beliefs that people throughout history would recognize as being grounded in the exercise of conscience and faith, we should be tolerant of such exercise. If we want liberty, let us ensure that our Constitution remains a check on the power of the State that would infringe on the fundamental rights and freedoms our Founders sought to protect. And if we want peace, let us embrace what our Founders embraced. And like the Founders, let us firmly rely on the protection of divine providence as we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. And when we reaffirm our foundational principles, let us hope that instead of division, we would see the new birth of freedom that Lincoln envisioned. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, encompassing Beaver County and parts of Allegheny, Lawrence, Westmoreland, Cambria and Somerset Counties. I appreciate that they elected me to represent them in this House for the past 6 years. It has been an incredible honor to pursue the objectives they sent me here to do: to get the economy growing at a healthier pace with more jobs and higher wages; to stop government overreach that was taking away the right of people to choose their own healthcare plan and causing their health insurance costs to skyrocket; to stand in solidarity with our veterans; and defend the foundational principles on which this country was founded, including the first right and the first freedom mentioned in our founding documents, the God-given right to life and the free exercise of religion. Mr. Speaker, I could not have done my work without the support of several constituents, in particular: my wife, Elsie; and my kids, Mimi, Gerard, Edmund, Maggie, Helen, and Alice. Their patience and endurance with my absences are what many families of those in public life go through, and I cannot thank them enough. May God grant that our country reaffirm the truths embedded within our Declaration of Independence. May He grant that such reaffirmation does lead to that new birth of freedom that President Lincoln spoke of. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, in the coming days, this House will debate the importance of securing our border with Mexico. This should not be a controversial debate. Every nation has the right to secure its borders. There are, indeed, differences among nations from the type of government to the freedoms and liberties a country's people enjoy, and borders define where these begin and end. Borders also allow countries to determine who and, as important, what is allowed to enter into respective nations. It is this latter point, Mr. Speaker, given the historical context in which the United States and Mexico find themselves, that impels not only the United States but also Mexico to ensure that we have a secure border. There are certain products, namely dangerous narcotics, being made in and shipped through Mexico that we do not want in the United States, and there are items such as illicit cash from drug sales that Mexico does not want imported from the United States. Yes, we are concerned about knowing the identity of individuals coming into our country, and we need to be vetting each individual seeking admission to the United States. But it is the illicit drug trade, which is responsible for taking tens of thousands of lives on both sides of the border, that makes beyond urgent the securing of the U.S.-Mexico border. Ninety percent of the heroin used in our country comes from Mexico. Fentanyl, methamphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana also flow across the border in staggering amounts. These poisons destroy lives and result in billions of dollars of illicit cash flowing to transnational criminal organizations on the Mexican side of the border. These organizations are described best in one word: evil. Over the last decade, Mexican drug cartels have been responsible for deaths of thousands of Mexicans, and their exports have killed thousands of Americans. Mexico prosecutes relatively few of the murders that occur on its soil. The cartels kill with impunity. They kill Catholic priests. They kill journalists. They kill students. They kill politicians. They have killed U.S. agents. And they kill each other. The rule of law has been replaced in many Mexican states with the law of violence, revenge, and brutal force. Headlines over the past 2 years tell the story: National Catholic Register, May 22, 2018: ``Why Is Mexico the Deadliest Place to Be a Priest?'' The New York Times, December 21, 2017: ``Most Lethal to Journalists: 1. War Zones 2. Mexico.'' CNN, July 2, 2018: ``Mexico goes to the polls . . . 132 politicians have been killed since campaigning began.'' The Wall Street Journal, November 14, 2018: ```It's a Crisis of Civilization in Mexico.' 250,000 Dead. 37,400 Missing.'' Progress against the cartels has been too slow, but there have been some encouraging developments. The trial of the alleged head of the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquin ``El Chapo'' Guzman, is underway in New York. Within the last month, the Department of Justice indicted individuals affiliated with the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel, but those individuals remain at large. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration also recently announced it was joining with State and local officials in Chicago specifically to go after Mexican cartels, which have played a role in the violence that plagues that community, a community that is 1,500 miles from the border. In announcing the action, the DEA said: ``There is no single entity or solution that can stop the flow of dangerous illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl into Chicago or to keep them from harming the citizens of this great city. . . . To be clear, these drugs are being produced, manufactured, and trafficked by various Mexican cartels to numerous parts of the United States and elsewhere in the world.'' Yes, Mr. Speaker, the border issue does not just affect California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It affects the entire Nation, including my district in western Pennsylvania. Our two countries have not done enough to combat the epidemic of drugs and violence. It is an epidemic that has left mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters on both sides of the border steeped in grief. There is no single solution to this evil. But one tool is available, and that is the force of our will. It is an act of the will to stop the transfer of drugs northbound into the United States and the transfer of illicit cash southbound into Mexico. A secure border is a necessary prerequisite to this end. That secure border requires not only, where appropriate, physical barriers. It also requires significantly increased capacity for inspecting vehicles traveling between the United States and Mexico at our ports of entry. More inspection lanes, more equipment, and more personnel were prescribed in the Securing America's Future Act. If we are serious about securing the border, that bill should accompany any appropriations language we pass this month. As the 115th Congress draws to a close, let us take one more vital step to ending the drug crisis and bring peace to Mexico and communities across the United States. Mr. Speaker, let's secure our border.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate Dr. Gennaro R. Piraino, Jr., for his selection as the 2019 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year. A Western Pennsylvania native, Gennaro earned his Doctor of Education in Administrative and Policy Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Franklin Regional School District. A leader in both the educational and local communities, Gennaro has served on Pennsylvania's School Safety and Security Committee since June of 2018 and has been a major advocate in sculpting a well-rounded academic environment for students to flourish. He is also an active member on various boards of local leadership groups, including but not limited to, the Board of Directors for the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce, the Tri-State Study Council's Executive Board, and the Fanklin Regional Panther Foundation. At the same time, Gennaro's focus on building strong, dynamic young leaders is unmatched. Recognizing that a student's success extends beyond the classroom, Gennaro has been instrumental in promoting students' personal and professional development by creating and expanding educational programs and partnerships. The Superintendent of the Year award is given to those who exemplify leadership in learning, professionalism, communications skills, and involvement in the community. The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators could not have chosen a better beneficiary. Gennaro's commitment to improving opportunities for students, empowering them to dream big and encouraging them to pursue excellence in all aspects of life, rightfully deserves this award. Congratulations again, Gennaro, on receiving this prestigious award. You have made the people of Western Pennsylvania incredibly proud.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, our Nation lost an intellectual giant and visionary leader this past Saturday, November 10, 2018. Dr. Herbert London was a legendary conservative author, scholar, commentator, and defender of freedom. He was a scholar's scholar and a gentleman's gentleman. A New Yorker of great stature, Herb grew up playing basketball and led his high school team to a city championship. After completing his studies at Columbia University, Herb's hoop-playing skills caught the eye of the Syracuse Nationals; however, an injury blocked his athletic career. Herb went on to earn a Ph.D. from New York University and later served as the dean of NYU's Gallatin division. From running for political office to leading the Hudson Institute to founding the London Center for Policy Research, Dr. London was the definition of a renaissance man and a true patriot, committed to bringing about a stronger, more principled Nation. A 6'5'' tower of humility, integrity, and vision, Herb will be sorely missed, and his legacy will forever be enshrined in the hearts and minds of many. My prayers are with the London family as they heal from this tremendous loss. May he rest in peace.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of western Pennsylvania native and war hero, Petty Officer Third Class Walter ``Bert'' Mintus. Hailing from Portage, Pennsylvania, in 1942, Bert enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a radioman for Torpedo Squadron Fifty-One during World War II. This was the same torpedo squadron in which our 41st President, George H.W. Bush, served during the war. On July 27, 1944, during a mission over the Pacific, his aircraft came under enemy fire from the Japanese and was shot down. Afterward, Bert and his brothers in arms on the plane were listed as missing in action and later presumed dead. For nearly 74 years, the Mintus family was unsure of the fate that befell their beloved family member. That changed this year. Thanks to the diligent efforts of the U.S. Navy, this past June, Bert's remains were identified; and last Thursday, Bert's family finally welcomed their war hero home. May God grant this son of western Pennsylvania eternal rest.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Dr. Richard Gottfried, whose life was tragically taken, along with 10 other congregants, during the attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27. Raised in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Rich concluded his studies at the University of Pittsburgh Dental School. There, he met Peg Durachko, with whom he enjoyed a beautiful 38-year marriage. Rich and Peg ran a local dental practice. They also joyfully gave back to their community, providing dental care to the needy, including immigrants and refugees, at the Catholic Charities Dental Clinic and at the Squirrel Hill Medical Center. Their boundless love was reflected in their full respect of and engagement in each other's Jewish and Catholic faiths. When not serving as synagogue president or providing dental care, Rich and Peg relished evenings at home on their deck with wine and cigars. What took Rich from us was an act of pure evil, hatred, and anti- Semitism. Love must overcome hate, and the love displayed by Rich and Peg, and now continued by her, can lead us all from grieving to healing. May Rich's memory be a blessing to Peg and his whole community.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize U.S. Army Private First Class Warren Goss. A western Pennsylvania native, Warren answered the call to defend his country and joined the U.S. Army in July of 1943 at the age of 18. He was deployed to the European theater where he underwent training for the D-day invasions as a rifleman. Under heavy enemy fire and without air support, Warren and his fellow comrades were some of the first soldiers to bravely storm the beaches of Normandy, succeeding in their mission to secure a German communications tower. Afterward, Warren was transferred to the 70th Division's 274th K Company, where he continued to fight in France and across Europe until the end of the war. Upon returning home, Warren met his wife, Mary, and fathered two daughters, Rhonda and Paula. For his heroic actions to liberate France, Warren was recently made a Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, France's highest order of merit for military and civil merits. Congratulations, Warren, on receiving this distinct honor, and thank you for your valiant and selfless service to our Nation.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exemplary efforts of Bob Weismantle and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 862 Honor Guard in their remembrance of Commander Doyle Lynn of Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania. Commander Lynn served our country as a U.S. Navy pilot. On May 27, 1965, while flying a combat mission in Vietnam, Commander Lynn's plane was shot down by the enemy. Following this tragedy, Commander Lynn was deemed missing in action. Fifty-three years later, Bob Weismantle and fellow Vietnam veterans requested that Hopewell Township in Beaver County install a street sign to commemorate their missing comrade. Today, this honor was rightfully bestowed. The Commander Doyle Lynn street sign is proudly mounted on West Wade Street. The care and dedication shown by Bob and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 862 for their missing brother-in-arms speaks volumes to their character and the loyalty that our veterans have for one another. Mr. Speaker, I thank all our veterans for their selfless sacrifice defending our country. May God bless Commander Doyle Lynn.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleague, Mr. Perlmutter, for his diligent work on this very practical, bipartisan bill. I urge my colleagues to support its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the FinCEN Improvement Act was introduced by Representative Ed Perlmutter, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance, and cosponsored by Representative Steve Pearce, the chairman of this subcommittee. This would add Tribal law enforcement agencies to those partners with which the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network already works, which includes Federal, State, local, and foreign law enforcement agencies. The bill would clarify that FinCEN should protect against all forms of terrorism. FinCEN currently supports law enforcement on domestic issues, not just international, and this legislation would clarify that current practice. This bill would add an emphasis on emerging technologies or value that substitutes for currency in order to address the growing exploitation of digital currencies to move illicit funds. The financial technology, virtual currency, and electronic payments landscape is rapidly evolving to include means of storing and transferring value that didn't exist when previous laws and regulations were written. This bill emphasizes that FinCEN ought to prioritize cryptocurrencies to ensure that criminals and terrorists cannot use these technologies to carry out illicit financial activities. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROTHFUS. 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 this bill.

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6411) to amend the duties of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to ensure FinCEN works with Tribal law enforcement agencies, protects against all forms of terrorism, and focuses on virtual currencies.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Beatty for working together on this very particular piece of legislation. Again, this is a right-sized regulation that enjoys strong bipartisan support and sets forth the appropriate framework for regulating insurance savings and loan holding companies in this area. Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues vote ``yes'' on this legislation, H.R. 5059, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer), the chairman of the House Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee.

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5059, the State Insurance Regulation Preservation Act. I want to thank Chairman Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters for their support for this bill. I also want to commend my colleague, Representative Joyce Beatty from Ohio, for her leadership on this issue. It has been a pleasure working with Representative Beatty, the ranking member's staff, and the Federal Reserve to ensure that this legislation is balanced, effective, and bipartisan. This bill is a good example of how solutions-minded Members from both sides of the aisle can come together to address a clear problem. H.R. 5059 is a commonsense, right-regulation bill that calls on the Federal Reserve to tailor the supervision of insurance-focused savings and loan holding companies. As many of you know, Dodd-Frank brought savings and loan holding companies under the Federal Reserve's supervision for the first time. Despite the fact that Dodd-Frank also reaffirmed a State-based model of insurance regulation, a principle that we all support, the law had the effect of also bringing insurance savings and loan holding companies, or ISLHCs, under the Fed's purview. These are firms that are overwhelmingly engaged in the business of insurance but also happen to own thrift subsidiaries. These insurance companies are simultaneously regulated by the Fed and the States. The lack of clarity regarding how Fed supervision of these insurers should complement rather than supplant State regulation has led to regulatory inefficiency, duplication of effort, and higher compliance costs. Bank-centric Fed supervision has also been a poor fit for companies that are primarily in the insurance business and has not been consistent with the actual risks posed by ISLHCs. All of this cost and complexity eventually impact consumers through higher prices and reduced access to services. I should also point out that the burden of duplicative supervision has encouraged a significant number of these insurance companies to get rid of their thrift subsidiaries. Today, fewer than half of the insurance savings and loan holding companies that existed when Dodd- Frank was enacted continue to operate under the same model. H.R. 5059 streamlines regulators' approach to ISLHCs by enacting the following reforms. If an ISLHC has filed a report with another Federal or State regulator, the Fed will be required to request that report from that regulator first before requesting the information from the company. This prevents compliance staff from being required to respond to duplicative information requests. H.R. 5059 also requires the Fed to align recordkeeping requirements with those imposed by State insurance authorities to avoid duplication. The bill also requires that Fed examinations be coordinated, to the fullest extent possible, with State and Federal authorities. Again, this will help to reduce unnecessary duplication and conflict. The bill further requires the Fed to craft a supervisory framework that appropriately tailors the supervision of ISLHCs. It then requires a review of existing supervisory guidance to ensure that it is consistent with the new framework. All of these reforms will provide greater regulatory clarity and efficiency, and reduce unnecessary compliance burden. In doing so, we can ensure that these companies can continue to serve their customers without sacrificing the safety and soundness of our financial system. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5059, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROTHFUS. 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.

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5059) to amend the Home Owners' Loan Act with respect to the registration and supervision of insurance savings and loan holding companies, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding. It wasn't too long ago that we had the gentleman visit our district in western Pennsylvania to talk to a number of folks in the defense industry, and I just applaud him for his very serious work on the Armed Services Committee. He is good to highlight the situations that we come into when we see these continuing resolutions, the damage it does to our military, the need for long-term planning, how we have threats around the world, both emerging threats that continue to evolve, but there are our old adversaries and not-so-old adversaries: Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and global terror networks. We could go on and on and on, but we have to have a military that is ready to respond. And we cannot be holding our military budget hostage to any other part of the Federal Government. It makes no sense. Speaking of one of those adversaries, I want to talk a little bit about Russia, because Russia has been in the news so much lately. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about Russia and the threat it poses to us and our allies. For the past 40 years or so, I would describe myself as a hawk when it comes to Russia. As such, I would like to welcome my friends from across the aisle who are finally starting to express their concerns about the Russian bear. The question I have is: What took so long? Russia has been an adversary of the United States and the West for decades. I will spare the House a lengthy history lesson and then, instead, focus on the recent past. This is important because in conversations I have had back home, there are some constituents who are unaware of that history. Next month will mark 10 years since Russia invaded the Republic of Georgia. In response to this, then-President George W. Bush condemned the action saying: The territorial integrity and borders of Georgia must be respected, just as those of Russia or any other country. Less than 7 months after the 2008 Georgia invasion, however, during the opening days of the Obama administration, then-Secretary of State Clinton presented a reset button to Russian's foreign minister, as if it was the prior administration's fault for Russia's aggression and consequent chilly relationship. And mere months after hitting the reset button, we learned President Obama was shutting down a proposed missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Some reset. Within the aura of this reset, a Russian bank paid Secretary Clinton's husband $500,000 for a 1-hour speech in Moscow. That is some billable rate, even for a Yale Law School graduate. At the same time, a Russian company was preparing to take a controlling interest in Uranium One, a corporation that held 20 percent of the U.S's uranium supply. That foreign acquisition required the approval of the Obama administration and Secretary Clinton. Approval was granted. Ultimately, The New York Times reported that $2.3 million of contributions from Uranium One connections flowed to the Clinton Foundation. But that has not seemed to draw concerns from the new Democrat Russia hawks from across the aisle. Later, as Secretary Clinton wrapped up her State Department tenure in 2012, President Obama, not aware that a microphone was picking him up said to then-Russian President Medvedev: This is my last election. After my election, I will have more flexibility. And Medvedev responded: I will relay that to Vladimir. That would be Vladimir Putin. The flexibility was about missile defense. President Obama even mocked Mitt Romney in a 2012 Presidential debate after Romney identified Russia as our biggest geopolitical threat. President Obama glibly responded to Romney: ``And, the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back . . . '' During President Obama's second term, we saw continued indifference towards Russia, Crimea, Eastern Ukraine, the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, Russian violations of the Reagan-Gorbachev Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, ceding Middle East influence that fueled the growth of ISIS, and failure to respond to Bashar al- Assad's use of chemical weapons, to name a few. And not once do I recall ever hearing a peep from my friends across the aisle, even after President Obama drew his infamous red line. Let's compare the response to the shooting down of Korean Airlines Flight 007 to that of flight MH17. Brilliantly, U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick publicly prosecuted and convicted Russia at the United Nations for shooting down KAL Flight 007, which killed 269 innocent civilians, including Congressman Larry McDonald. The KAL 007 shoot down dramatically increased our resolve to collapse the evil empire. However, the Obama administration never thoroughly prosecuted the case for Russia's culpability for the MH17 shoot down. In the midst of all this, Russia was plotting to interfere in our elections. Ignoring the 1980s calling about the foreign policy, the Obama administration did not take the Russia threat seriously. They never picked up the voicemail that the 1980s left. It was the last administration's failure to understand the threat that Russia posed that virtually paved the way for the aggressive Russia we see today. Throughout the Obama administration, Secretary Clinton and others failed to confront Russian hostility, the result of a reset button. The reality is that Vladimir Putin wants to sow discord in the West. He would cause trouble to whoever was in the White House. Interestingly, when Putin said in Helsinki that he wanted Trump to win, it was amazing to see people accept his remarks without a hint of skepticism, even though Putin is a former KGB agent and a master of disinformation. Let me repeat that. Vladimir Putin is a former KGB agent and a master of disinformation. It is President Trump that wants to arm Ukrainians. He is demanding that Germany stop buying gas from Russia. He is advancing American energy development, as opposed to the Obama administration that sought to curtail it. And when Russia's puppet, Assad, used chemical weapons on his own people, President Trump responded with military force. From that perspective, would Putin, the master of disinformation, really have preferred President Trump over President Clinton? The American people can draw their own conclusions. While my friends across the aisle seem to have awoken to the threat that Russia presents, going forward, I hope they remain as concerned about Russia and President Putin as they are about President Trump. For starters, they could show up by helping to get to the bottom of the Uranium One scandal. Meanwhile, on our side of the aisle, we take Russia seriously and have done so for decades. We are providing military assistance to Ukraine. We are passing new Russian sanctions legislation on top of what we passed earlier this year. We are the ones countering Russia's influence in the Middle East and their ally, Iran. When it comes to checking Russia, it is Republicans, not Democrats, who have the established record of doing so, and we will continue to do that for as long as Russian hostility exists. I simply implore President Trump to be vigilant and clear and heed the concerns of my fellow Republican legislators who have engaged on Russian matters for years. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his work on this area.

Mr. ROTHFUS

Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the House amendment to S. 1182, the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act. This summer has been a challenging time for western Pennsylvania, where summer storms have caused devastating floods. Residents are still recovering from the damage. At the same time, the NFIP, the National Flood Insurance Program, is close to lapsing. That is because, like so many things we have done in the House, the Senate has failed to act. We know the NFIP is in need of reform. As a member of the Financial Services Committee, I applaud Chairmen Hensarling and Duffy for their work to craft a bipartisan bill that we have passed. Many of these reforms in this bill are bipartisan. They are noncontroversial. Pennsylvania's own insurance commissioner, a Democratic appointee, even testified before our committee in support of the private flood insurance provisions that are essential to improving consumer choice. Unfortunately, the Senate is stalled. We should continue urging Senators to take action, in the meantime. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this temporary extension, and I urge the Senate to get back to work.