John Ratcliffe

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3578) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002, to strengthen and make improvements to the Directorate of Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith), my friend and colleague.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the gentlewoman for her support and leadership in connection with this bill. I would also like to thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for their leadership in moving this important bill forward. Mr. Speaker, threats in technologies are always changing. This bill will help DHS S&T find strategic and focused technology options and innovative solutions to address homeland security capability gaps and threats to our homeland. I, once again, urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3578, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for his leadership on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, every day Washington hits the American people with more regulations that hurt families, but very few will hurt these families more than President Obama's so-called Clean Power Plan because, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, the average electricity cost for a Texas household each year is $1,800, which is already 26 percent higher than the national average. To put this in perspective, almost half of all Texans spend more than 15 percent of their annual household budget on energy costs alone. To stand up for middle-income families, we have an obligation to fight for policies that will keep energy costs down. Unfortunately, the administration's new regulations do exactly the opposite, which is why I introduced resolutions to combat these regulations immediately after they were announced and garnered the support of cosponsors from 15 different States. Americans across every corner of this country are impacted by this administration's overregulatory zeal, and we have got to do everything we can to stop it. The facts are clear. These regulations will shut down vital power plants across the country, costing thousands of hardworking Americans their jobs, and in the process driving up electricity costs for every American. To that point, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas anticipates that these regulations will increase retail power prices in Texas by up to 16 percent; and when family budgets are already stretched so thin, they simply can't afford this increase. In developing these regulations, the Obama administration once again has ignored everyday Americans and instead doubled down on its extreme ideological agenda. Making matters worse, the EPA itself admits that these regulations come at a cost of anywhere between $5.1 billion and $8.4 billion in year 2030 alone. What are the benefits of these regulations, you may ask? In exchange for crushing American families, losing American jobs at a cost of billions and billions of dollars, what profound effect will these regulations have on our environment? Well, the scientific experts estimate that these regulations would only reduce the global temperature by one one-hundredth of a degree Fahrenheit and reduce sea levels by a mere two-tenths of 1 millimeter. Mr. Speaker, we simply can't let the Obama administration force Americans to sacrifice so much when even the most optimistic of calculations predict that the return would be negligible at best. I urge my colleagues to support both pieces of legislation which are so critical to stopping these regulations dead in their tracks.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership on these issues. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3490, the Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act. This bill will authorize the National Computer Forensics Institute, or NCFI, which is located in Hoover, Alabama. Mr. Speaker, when FBI Director Jim Comey recently testified before the House Judiciary Committee, he told us that ``an element of virtually every national security threat and crime problem the FBI faces is cyber-based or facilitated.'' I want to pause and let that sink in for a minute because it makes a perfect case for this bill. The fact that our Federal law enforcement is seeing a cyber element to almost every national security threat and crime problem is incredibly compelling because you can be certain that our State and local law enforcement are seeing the same trend, but with a lot fewer opportunities to learn how to address it. Now, we have all seen the crime shows on TV where pieces of DNA evidence--a strand of hair or a drop of blood--are used to solve a case. But in today's world, we have to rely upon digital evidence, an email that was sent or an online purchase that was made or geolocation technology that places an individual at the scene of the crime. Mr. Speaker, today's cybercriminals present new challenges to law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges. It no longer takes a sophisticated cybercriminal to compromise personal and sensitive information of U.S. companies and everyday Americans. Any criminal can now easily obtain from the dark Web the cyber exploit tools that are needed to create this type of havoc. And so, with the ever-increasing number of cyberattacks, it is vital that our State and local law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges be properly trained to respond to cybercrime and to protect the American people. The NCFI, which my bill authorizes, does just that. The NCFI was created in 2007 by the State of Alabama and is now operated by the United States Secret Service for the purpose of training State and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges on how to investigate cyber- and electronic crimes, on methods for conducting computer and mobile device forensic examinations, and on performing network intrusion investigations. The NCFI has already garnered a reputation as the premier crime- training center in the Nation, supporting State and local law enforcement investigators, prosecutors, and judges. To date, it has already trained and equipped more than 4,500 local law enforcement officials from all 50 States. These NCFI graduates--all of whom are now equipped to hit back on cybercrime--represent more than 1,500 agencies nationwide, including agencies from Texas' Fourth Congressional District that I represent, like the Greenville Police Department, the Hunt County District Attorney's Office, and the Collin County Sheriff's Office. Kelli Aiken, an assistant district attorney from Hunt County, told us that her training at the NCFI had ``transformed their evidence collection and prosecution, leading to more successful apprehensions, more prosecutions, and more convictions.'' So you see, Mr. Speaker, this isn't some highly theoretical bill where the rubber never meets the road. This piece of legislation takes what is already working and formalizes these practices to better amplify their impact going forward. This bill gives our law enforcement across the country the necessary tools and training to successfully fight cybercriminals in the 21st century. That is why I am honored to introduce it and why I am grateful for its vote today here in the House.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

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

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3510, the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Strategy Act of 2015, sponsored by Representative Cedric Richmond, ranking member of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies Subcommittee, of which I am the chairman. This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to develop and to submit to Congress a cybersecurity strategy and implementation plan. Because the Department of Homeland Security is charged with securing the dot-gov domain and working with the private sector to secure the dot-com domain, a comprehensive strategic plan and implementation plan will support DHS' essential cybersecurity mission. Mr. Speaker, too often these days cyber attacks disrupt the operations of government, of businesses, and of the lives of the American people. The increasingly sophisticated nature of the cyber threats we face on a daily basis underscore the need to manage and strengthen the cybersecurity of our Nation's critical infrastructure. The Government Accountability Office has recommended the implementation of an overarching Federal cybersecurity strategy. H.R. 3510 is an important step toward accomplishing this task. H.R. 3510 also precludes any reorganization effort of the Department of Homeland Security's National Protection and Programs Directorate, or NPPD, without congressional approval. This is an effort to ensure that congressional oversight is conducted. Mr. Speaker, in June of this year, a story in the press announced that the NPPD was planning a significant reorganization. Since June, very few specifics have emerged, and even those that have have been very sparse in detail. The details that have been made public elicit concern because they support overhauling the infrastructure protection and cybersecurity functions of the directorate without providing details on exactly what this would mean for the mission, for the structure, or for the workforce of the directorate. The language in this bill follows a bipartisan letter sent just last month to the Department expressing congressional concern with the lack of transparency surrounding this proposed reorganization and communicating the congressional intent to provide oversight on this issue. The letter also clearly stated that any reorganization or realignment should require congressional authorization. Over the past several years, the Committee on Homeland Security, on which I serve, has built up a collaborative working relationship with the NPPD, consulting with it to pass several strong and bipartisan pieces of legislation to improve chemical security and to strengthen DHS' cybersecurity mission and stature in the Federal Government. Given our shared goal of protecting this country and the committee's continued legislative oversight efforts to strengthen DHS' cybersecurity functions, it is essential that the Department submit any proposal to Congress prior to reorganization or realignment. It is Congress' role and responsibility to authorize the key responsibilities of the executive branch to include strengthening our cybersecurity posture and ensuring the security and resiliency of our Nation's critical infrastructure. I would like to thank Mr. Richmond for the work that he and his staff have done to come together in a bipartisan way on this legislation. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3510. I thank Congressman Richmond for his bipartisan approach in bringing this bill to the floor today. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3510) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a cybersecurity strategy for the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I submit this memoriam to honor Dana Denise Magness Clemons, a dedicated and outstanding citizen of Fannin County, Texas, who passed away on April 26, 2015 at the too young age of 37 after bravely battling pancreatic cancer. Although her life was tragically shortened, Dana profoundly impacted so many youth in her community. She committed her career to protecting and serving those who were less fortunate, and she left a legacy of caring and love for the lives she touched. Dana was born in Sherman, TX on August 10, 1977 to Jerry and Brenda (Brown) Magness. She was a member of the Class of 1995 Sam Rayburn High School and graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Dana married Kevin Clemons on September 12, 2003 in Telephone, TX, and she is the mother of Destynie and Kyler Clemons. Dana dedicated her enormous energies and talents to helping those in her family and her community. She was a staunch advocate for children in need, and she protected our society's most vulnerable citizens throughout her 12 years of employment with Child Protective Services, Children's Medicaid, and Temporary Aid for Needy Family programs in the State of Texas. While Dana logged many hours investigating reports of abuse or neglect, she encountered dangerous situations. Despite personal risk, she put children's safety and well-being as a top priority. She was honored to receive the Fannin County Children's Advocacy Center's ``Team Member of the Year'' for her work, a prestigious and well-deserved award. In December 2013, she joined Adult Probation Services which she felt was her true calling. Due to her illness, she was unable to fully complete her career goals. However, she had a strong impact on those she served. In addition, Dana had a true giving spirit. If she noticed a special need for a child, she would purchase equipment or shoes so the child could participate in sports or other activities. Many children were benefactors of her anonymous generosity. Her most important role was that of mother to her two children, Destynie and Kyler. Dana was a wonderful mother who instilled values, virtue, respect and old fashioned manners. Most of all, she taught her children to pray and to trust in God. During her journey with cancer, she modeled how to meet challenges head on, with courage and strong faith. Dana's heritage includes a family of community servants. While serving with the Texas Farm Bureau, her grandfather, Royce Magness, spent many hours in Washington, DC advocating for American farmers. Dana's father, Jerry Magness, and uncle, David Magness, are County Commissioners in the Great State of Texas. Her mother, Brenda Magness, and grandfather jointly dedicated more than 60 years of service to our Great Nation's Veterans. So I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the life of Dana Denise Magness Clemons. She left a strong legacy of service and dedication to those in need, and she modeled how to face challenges with courage and faith. God bless her children and her family, and I know her spirit will live on through them.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. I thank my friend and colleague from Texas for holding this Special Order and for yielding. Madam Speaker, ``to protect and serve,'' those words are much more than just a slogan on the side of police cars across this country. It is a promise, a promise that our men and women in blue fulfill on a daily basis while they serve to uphold the pillars of law and order that our society depends on. Without their work, without their sacrifice, our communities would be lawless, and our families, our friends, our neighbors, our loved ones would all be in constant jeopardy. Thousands of police officers go to work each day knowing the danger, knowing that they may have to pay the ultimate sacrifice to provide us with security. Officers like Deputy Goforth of Texas have been targeted for execution and have paid the ultimate price simply because they choose to protect our communities. The recent wave of violence against our peace officers simply because they wear a uniform is outrageous. It is appalling, and it must end. Madam Speaker, I will continue to stand with our law enforcement, and I want to personally thank the men and women in law enforcement in the Fourth Congressional District of Texas that I am privileged to represent. I want to thank those Texas peace officers who have reached out to me personally to express their concerns on this issue, like Mike Sullivan in Farmersville, Otis Henry in Sherman, Terry Garrett in Heath, Harold Eavenson in Rockwall, Jay Burch in Denison, and Daniel Shiner in Texarkana. Thanks to you all. Thanks to all the men and women who serve in law enforcement and serve our communities. You are appreciated. We are grateful.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to recognize several unsung heroes in the Fourth Congressional District of Texas. Several counties in my district are just now beginning to recover from recent flooding at historic levels, so I appreciate the opportunity to thank all the sheriff and fire departments in communities across our district in Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Red River, Bowie, Hopkins, Delta, and Cass Counties. Emergency coordinators like C.J. Durbin-Higgins, Joyce and Steven Molder, and Robert Flowers in Grayson County; and Jim Roberts, Deborah Lann, and James Carlow in Bowie County, as well as so many others, are deserving of our gratitude. While our first responders' efforts have been vital and, in some cases, heroic, many folks back home are still suffering. Mr. Speaker, I want my constituents to know that they can still reach out to my office if they need any assistance or help with any issues related to flooding.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I submit the recognition of an outstanding public servant, leader, and family man, Rockwall Police Chief Mark Moeller. Chief Moeller plans to retire on July 17th after 38 years in law enforcement, the past 13 years serving as chief. He began his career with the Dallas Police Department in 1977, where he worked in several divisions and held a variety of positions including detective, sergeant, and lieutenant. In 2002, he was appointed Chief of the Rockwall Police Department, where he brought his broad base of experience and wisdom to lead the Department through unprecedented growth and change. During that time, he tirelessly served the citizens of Rockwall and the surrounding area with the highest level of professionalism and integrity, and his community is forever grateful for his dedication. When Chief Moeller began his tenure in Rockwall, the city had a population of 20,000 and 42 sworn officers. The city now supports 43,000 residents and has almost doubled the number of sworn officers to 79. Included among Chief Moeller's many accomplishments in Rockwall, he established a fully trained SWAT team and a police volunteer program, Citizens on Patrol. A career highlight was twice earning recognition from the Texas Police Chiefs Association, which requires meeting 166 standards. Mark earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and a Master of Science in Human Relations and Business, and he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. In retirement, he plans to travel with his wife of almost 36 years, Debbie, volunteer more with the First United Methodist Church, Helping Hands, and Habitat for Humanity. He and Debbie also plan to spend time with their two married children, Matt and Kimberly, and their four wonderful grandchildren. Chief Mark Moeller leaves behind a distinguished legacy, and the influence of his steadfast and progressive leadership will be felt for many years to come. I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating Mark Moeller, and wishing him all the best in this next chapter of life.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2390) to require a review of university-based centers for homeland security, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for their leadership on this bill. I, once again, urge my colleagues to support this bill. It is a strong bipartisan piece of legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon in support of H.R. 2390, the Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act of 2015, authored by the ranking member, the gentleman from Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, this bill will require the Government Accountability Office to initiate a study to assess the university-based centers for homeland security and provide recommendations to Congress on improvements. The Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence play a vital role in providing long-term research and support of technology development in areas of emerging threats. Additionally, these centers play key roles in supporting the Department of Homeland Security and its mission in protecting our homeland. I look forward to seeing the results of this study and how we can better improve the effectiveness of these university centers. I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, June 17, 2015. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 2390, the ``Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act,'' which your Committee reported on May 20, 2015. H.R. 2390 contains provisions within the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a result of your having consulted with the Committee and in order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will forego action on the bill. This is being done on the basis of our mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation. I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the Committee Report and in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, Lamar Smith, Chairman.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1637) to require annual reports on the activities and accomplishments of federally funded research and development centers within the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1637, the Federally Funded Research and Development Sunshine Act of 2015. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent 700,000 north and east Texans. They have sent me here to Washington to pull the curtain back and shine a light into this Federal bureaucracy. Mr. Speaker, we all know that Federal agencies can be inefficient, ineffective, and resistant to oversight. They don't like to be held accountable, not by the American people or by individuals like me who are elected to represent those folks here in Congress. As a committed conservative who is fighting to secure the American homeland, I believe that increased transparency is a national security issue, and because of that, every taxpayer dollar that we spend must be scrutinized. We have to evaluate the government's programs and activities to see if they are worthwhile and to craft reforms that eliminate waste and bolster our national defense. A sluggish national security apparatus simply won't suffice. The American people deserve more. Congress can't even begin to conduct effective oversight and cut waste, fraud, and abuse if we don't know what is going on behind closed doors. That is why I introduced H.R. 1637. This bill will increase transparency at the Department of Homeland Security by directing the Secretary to give Congress a detailed account each year of the ongoing and completed projects that federally funded research and development centers, or FFRDCs, within the Department of Homeland Security have been assigned. FFRDCs conduct specialized research and development for the Federal Government. The two FFRDCs within the Department of Homeland Security provide independent analysis of homeland security issues. Currently, the Homeland Security Committee is expected to oversee these FFRDCs; yet the committee doesn't even receive an account of the status of ongoing or completed projects. It is hard to be a vigilant steward of hard-earned taxpayer dollars when you have a blindfold on. My legislation will enable the committee to have visibility into the scope of FFRDC projects that the DHS has tasked them to meet their mission needs. This detailed accounting will allow committee members to have insight into current research and development projects and be able to further scrutinize them, thereby increasing oversight and transparency of the entire Science and Technology Directorate operation at DHS. Mr. Speaker, it is important that Congress is aware of the Department of Homeland Security's research and development efforts and funding priorities to ensure that it is meeting the mission needs of its components, and this bill today will shed light on those activities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill. I think that we all agree that we can support increased transparency and a stronger, more secure homeland. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, June 23, 2015. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 1637, the ``Federally Funded Research and Development Sunshine Act of 2015,'' which your Committee ordered reported on May 20, 2015. H.R. 1637 contains provisions within the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Rule X jurisdiction. As a result of your having consulted with the Committee and in order to expedite this bill for floor consideration, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will not seek a sequential referral. This is being done on the basis of our mutual understanding that doing so will in no way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with respect to the appointment of conferees, or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation. I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would request that you include a copy of this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Sincerely, Lamar Smith, Chairman.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I, once again, urge my colleagues to support this strong, commonsense bipartisan piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for yielding this evening. Mr. Speaker, the most fundamental principle of our criminal justice system is that we are innocent until proven guilty. Operation Choke Point turns that most sacred tenet on its head. When President Obama and his administration uses agencies like the Department of Justice and the FDIC to target legal businesses without due process, without any public debate, and when he bases his attacks not on the rule of law but on his own political beliefs, well, that is a tragic breakdown of the system of checks and balances and separation of powers that our Founding Fathers deliberately designed. Mr. Speaker, Operation Choke Point is just flat wrong. Folks all across the Fourth Congressional District of Texas in cities and towns like Bonham, Denison, Sulphur Springs, Texarkana, and Sherman, they all just want to run their businesses and enjoy their freedoms without fear of persecution from a President that has overstepped his authority time and time again. Many of the Texans that I represent are deeply troubled and concerned about Operation Choke Point, an initiative which is pressuring banks and others in the financial industry to deny access to financial services to businesses like gun sellers and coal producers. My constituents see this operation for what it really is, a blunt weapon that targets and stigmatizes entire industries that the Obama administration dislikes, instead of an honest effort to get rid of actual bad actors and lawbreakers. Sadly, as a direct result of Operation Choke Point, legitimate businesses in Texas and across the country have been forced to close simply because the President and his activist bureaucrats have a political agenda, and they don't like what these businesses are selling. When you weaponize your government to go after folks you don't like and when you target your own citizens as political enemies, that is the way that Third World governments operate, not the greatest country the world has ever seen. Mr. Speaker, this is the United States of America, and our government should never go after its own citizens for political reasons. This is especially outrageous when the administration does so by targeting the Bill of Rights, and that is exactly what is happening here. When you specifically target gun dealers and ammunition manufacturers, that is an affront to and an assault upon our Second Amendment rights. No President or administration is above the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I have met recently with far too many honest, hard-working, law-abiding folks in the gun industry who have been politically targeted by this initiative. We can't allow this administration to continue to target legitimate businesses, like gun stores and cigar and pawn shops, through Operation Choke Point, just because the President doesn't like what they sell. Pressuring and forcing banks to stop engaging with legal industries needs to stop. We can't allow unelected bureaucrats to make such a brazen, backdoor assault on legitimate businesses and the hard-working, law-abiding citizens who own and operate them. In July of 2014, one of the Judiciary subcommittees on which I now serve held a hearing on Operation Choke Point, and because of that hearing and of the due process concerns raised by the testimony there, the DOJ and the FDIC announced it would rescind its list of so-called high-risk merchants. That move seemed to be an apparent recognition of the fact that Operation Choke Point is wrongfully inflicting collateral damage on legitimate businesses that are losing access to financial services. Despite this acknowledgment and admission from those at the top, companies across my district tell me that the administration's foot soldiers on the ground simply haven't gotten the message yet. The harassment is continuing, and this is simply unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, we should stand up for the rights of every American. I am saddened to see a President who is so out of touch with what has made this country great, who is so out of touch that he would use an army of unelected bureaucrats to attack businesses that don't toe the ideological line with his administration. Mr. Speaker, congressional oversight demands that we refuse to step aside, that we refuse to let this unprovoked attack on our constitutional and fundamental rights go unchallenged. I will continue to stand watch against this overreach. My colleagues and I will not allow our constituents' rights to be violated or our Constitution to be trampled.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chairman, my constituents sent me to Washington to cut wasteful spending. The Open World program is one of many, many programs that have the same purpose throughout the Federal Government. This is a chance to cut $5 million in spending for a duplicative program that we simply don't need. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of passage of the Ratcliffe amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for their hard work in crafting this bill. Mr. Chairman, in this fiscal environment, we have to be better stewards of taxpayer dollars, and we have to scrutinize every program that we allocate money towards. We can't ever forget that every dollar that we spend is a dollar taken from our constituents' hard-earned paychecks. It is for that reason, Mr. Chairman, that I have offered this amendment to eliminate funding for the Open World Leadership Center--a program started in 1999 and housed in the Library of Congress with the purpose of bringing leaders from post-Soviet countries to the United States to learn about our legislative process. The gentleman from California spoke passionately a few minutes ago about his belief that we need to have programs like this, but his comments ignore the fact that there are nearly 90 other similar or nearly identical programs throughout the government aimed at achieving this same goal. At the same time, this program has now spent more than $150 million towards that duplicative purpose. So when you consider that duplicative purpose alongside a national debt of $18.2 trillion, we have got to honestly examine and reconsider whether this is the best use of taxpayer money. This is especially true when accounts and programs across the legislative branch have seen reductions in recent years, but yet not a single dollar has been cut from the Open World program despite the fact that, after this subcommittee's examination of this program, Chairman Graves reported that, ``In light of both the lack of quantifiable results from the Open World Leadership Center and its duplications of programs more appropriately offered by the State Department, the program has long outlived its short-term intent.'' Mr. Chairman, I agree with the chairman's assessment, which is, by the way, not a partisan one. In fact, this is the all-too-rare situation and opportunity where Republicans and Democrats, alike, agree that we can cut spending without hurting American citizens. The American people have entrusted us with the responsibility of seeing that their tax dollars don't go to waste. And while Mr. Graves' bill allocates funds to the legislative branch to do the important work that we need to on behalf of the American people, the Open World program is one area where we can and should make this spending cut. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves), the chairman.