David Rouzer

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I have listened to the arguments. I have listened to my good friend, Mr. Price from North Carolina. Obviously, he and I share the same home State. And I think you just have to say that we all want the same thing. We just have a different idea of how to get there. Personally, when I look at the fact that Hurricane Matthew occurred in 2016, Congress appropriated billions of dollars, and only a fraction of that here in 2019--almost 2020, by the way--only a fraction of that has gotten back to the victims. That is totally unacceptable. We have Hurricane Florence which hit in 2018. Congress immediately passed a disaster supplemental bill that, again, includes billions for CDBG-DR. Have we seen anything? Not one bit. Not one dollar. So why do we want to codify something that has been such an adamant, complete total failure? It is kind of like taking a clunker and repainting it and saying: Hey, here is the new car. It is going to work even better than ever. Mr. Speaker, I suggest that we scrap this vehicle and go a different route. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves).

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

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, this impeachment sham needs to stop. We all know what this is really about: overturning the results of the 2016 election. From the outset, Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Schiff have conducted this inquiry behind closed doors, out of sight of the American people and us, without a vote to authorize it. They have ignored due process, completely disregarded precedent, and made it clear that politics and partisanship are more important than fairness and transparency. They denied our side of the aisle the right to subpoena evidence. They have excluded the President's legal team from participating in hearings, cross-examining witnesses, or presenting evidence. This body, quite simply, has been turned into a kangaroo court fixated on unseating the President at any cost. Our Constitution, our basic, fundamental principles of fairness, and the millions of Americans who made their voices heard in the 2016 election are being snubbed. Madam Speaker, it is time to stop this sham.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I missed votes on September 9, 2019 because I had an obligation in the state of North Carolina. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 516 and YEA on Roll Call No. 515.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their support and work on this bill as well. I certainly rise today in support of this measure sponsored and introduced by my friend and colleague, Mr. Meadows, also from North Carolina. We know firsthand just how badly this legislation is needed. In my district alone, which has been a victim of two major hurricanes in the last 3 years, Matthew in 2016, and Florence just this past fall, after both hurricanes, Congress appropriated disaster aid funding for rebuilding and recovery efforts. To date, very little of that money, quite honestly, has been channeled to the State. Taxpayers in North Carolina and across the rest of the country deserve to know how the Federal Government is spending these recovery funds, or whether they are being spent at all. More transparency means more accountability and making this disaster funding data available online to the public will help ensure that these dollars that Congress has appropriated are being spent in a timely and effective manner. As we continue to recover from Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, and prepare for yet another hurricane season this year, it is more important than ever that we make sure we are getting the most out of every single dollar that Congress appropriates. This bill will go a long way in helping to ensure just that.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of the late Mr. Harry Watkins of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, who passed away late last year at the age of 72. Harry Watkins got his start in architecture after studying at North Carolina State University. After a 40-year-long career, Harry has left a lasting imprint on Wrightsville Beach, Bald Head Island, Figure 8 Island and many other surrounding communities where he designed many of the homes that still stand there today. He always held a special place in his heart for Bald Head Island. Harry also helped to grow Wrightsville Beach true to his vision: ``The architect must understand the community, the environment, and especially the characteristics of the specific site,'' Harry said of his design philosophy. He described his idea of what a good home can be as ``a joy when things were going well, and a comfort when they were not.'' Harry left a legacy of architectural vision and excellence that is visible in each and every community he touched. He is survived by his wife Vicki, his daughter Brooke, and an entire community of friends, neighbors and clients who are forever grateful for his love and influence in their life. Madam Speaker, Harry Watkins was a great American who has left an enduring and exceptional legacy for which we are all proud.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of the late Mr. Harry Watkins of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. An architect for more than 40 years, Harry Watkins left a lasting imprint on Wrightsville Beach, Bald Head Island, Figure 8 Island and many other surrounding communities. Harry got his start in architecture after studying at North Carolina State University, and went on to design many of the homes that still stand there today. He always held a special place in his heart for Bald Head Island. Harry helped to grow Wrightsville Beach true to his vision: ``The architect must understand the community, the environment, and especially the characteristics of the specific site,'' Harry said of his design philosophy. He described his idea of what a good home can be as ``a joy when things were going well, and a comfort when they were not.'' Harry passed away late last year, at the age of 72. He left behind a legacy of architectural vision and excellence. Even more importantly, he is survived by his wife Vicki, his daughter Brooke, and an entire community of friends, neighbors and clients. Wrightsville Beach will be forever grateful for his passion for his community.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Chair, I appreciate the courtesy of my good friend from Idaho. I certainly appreciate his help and support with this amendment that is included in this package. Put very plainly, my amendment is designed to get the attention of the Army Corps of Engineers and for a very good reason. In the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016, language was included requiring the Army Corps of Engineers to work with localities that request a no-wake zone if there is a safety concern caused by speeding boats generating large wakes in stretches of federally maintained waters that run adjacent to a marina. Southport, North Carolina, a beautiful waterfront community, has been waiting nearly 3 years to have a no-wake zone established. That is 3 years of speeding boats creating wakes that have caused fuel spills at Southport Marina and, thankfully, at least so far, only minor injuries to date. Everyone back home knows this poses a significant safety concern. We just need for some who work in an agency known as the Army Corps of Engineers to understand it just as well. Common sense tells us that at some point, there is going to be a major accident. This is a very high traffic area of recreational boats. Doing nothing, as the Corps appears to favor, is not an option. Madam Chair, I thank my colleagues for their support of this amendment.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, after 72 years on the air, Carl Lamm, whom many know as the voice of Johnston County, retired as America's longest continuous radio broadcaster on Friday, March 29. Mr. Carl, as many of us affectionately call him, has been co-owner and operator of WTSB-AM radio in Smithfield, North Carolina, since 1958. His daily programming was revered by millions throughout the State, Nation, and world who listened to him on the radio and online throughout the course of his career. In more than seven decades on air, he brought some of the greatest musicians, top athletes, professionals of all stripes, and national political figures and commentators into the homes and businesses of his listeners to discuss current events and politics, to preach the Word of God, and much more. He has witnessed the evolution of radio from the glory days of the Grand Ole Opry to the digital age of the 21st century. Mr. Carl's many notable recognitions include North Carolina's highest civilian honor, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, as well as membership in the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame. However, what I admire most is his loyal faith in our creator. Suffice it to say, we will all miss listening to Mr. Carl on the air at WTSB radio. It is not often that you get to know a legend in their own time. Mr. Carl is just that and a very dear friend to many as well. As he enters this new chapter of life known as retirement, may God always continue to bless his path.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Florida, Representative Neal Dunn, who is not only a great colleague but a great friend. Madam Speaker, it is not just Hurricane Matthew--pardon me, Hurricane Michael. In my district we had Hurricane Matthew in 2016--but it is also Hurricane Florence that devastated southeastern North Carolina and many other areas this past fall as well. A lot of the previous speakers, colleagues who have come before me here today have talked about the need for disaster assistance, and they are exactly right. I want to complement what they have said, supplement what they have said, and paint a little bit of a broader picture here. You have got to understand that agriculture, in particular, has faced 5 years of really, really low prices; so farmers, whether they are in North Carolina and have suffered from the flood of Hurricane Florence, or whether they are in Georgia or Florida or anywhere else and have suffered from Hurricane Michael, or the floods in Nebraska, for example, they have no equity left. They have suffered 5 years of really, really low prices. We had a farm bill in place that, quite honestly, was not adequate in terms of the safety net that was in place and, as a result, they have no equity. And think about this: Think about all those out there--and for those who are not involved in agriculture, think about it this way--assume that you have invested millions and millions and millions of dollars that are plowed, literally plowed into the ground, but have no opportunity to produce a crop. You have no equity left. You just took a loan out from the bank. You are highly leveraged because of 5 years of low commodity prices. You have taken that loan out. This is the one year that you had available to you to make up the difference, to begin to turn it around financially. And lo and behold, you get hit by Hurricane Florence, totally flooded early September, no opportunity to harvest your crop, and there you are. That is the scenario. That is the picture. That is what so many farm families all across Eastern North Carolina, all across the Southeast are facing today. Meanwhile, you have got Members of the House and the Senate who care very deeply about their constituency, who have been working very, very hard to get an ag disaster package, and find it incredibly frustrating that here, in April, months after these storms have hit, we have made no progress. And there are a variety of reasons for that. But the fact of the matter is, this Chamber and the Senate Chamber need to come together with the White House to get this ag disaster package done just as quickly as possible. In North Carolina, agriculture is an $87 billion industry, the largest industry, by far. And let me make one final point. When these farm families are gone, when these farms are gone, they are not coming back; they are growing houses instead. They are not coming back. This agriculture disaster package is so critically important. We have got to get it done. I thank the leadership and the spirit of my good friend from Florida, Neal Dunn, and I really, really commend him and my other colleagues for putting forward the effort tonight to raise awareness of this issue. It is so critically important, not only for my home State of North Carolina, but for America.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, Jessica and Brandon Batten of Johnston County, North Carolina, have received the distinct honor of being selected as the 2019 National Outstanding Young Farmers of the Year. No couple is more deserving of this award than Jessica and Brandon. Brandon has been farming his entire life. He is a sixth-generation farmer and the third generation of his family's operation Triple B Farms, Incorporated, where he and his family produce tobacco, wheat, rye, soybeans, corn, and hay, along with beef cattle. His wife, Jessica, is an environmental engineer, providing innovative conservation plans to help increase farm productivity. Not only are the Battens helping to produce our food supply, they are also very active members of their community. Brandon is a first responder for Strickland's Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department, and both are active in their church. During a time when North Carolina's farm families have been facing a great deal of uncertainty, Brandon has been a strong advocate for his occupation through various farm organizations as well as the promotion of research and technological advancements in agriculture to help the industry remain strong. Mr. Speaker, these are two great young Americans who deserve to have their hard work and efforts rewarded, and I congratulate them on being selected for this very distinguished recognition.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to bring to the attention of this distinguished body Mr. Edward Winfield Taylor of Clinton, North Carolina, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Mr. Taylor is a dedicated community leader in Sampson County and in commemoration of Mr. Taylor's outstanding achievements and service to the community, Mayor Lew Starling of Clinton proclaimed Saturday, February 9, 2019, as ``Edward W. Taylor Day.'' This is a well-deserved honor. Mr. Taylor helped shape countless lives during his 36-year tenure as an admired teacher and band director at Clinton High School. He even went on to earn induction into the North Carolina Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 2011. Mr. Taylor helped make a small-town band competitive with some of largest bands across the state, marching in several national parades such as the Lion's International Parade in New York and the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Mr. Taylor's service to the community extended beyond his role as a teacher and band director. He taught Bible school at Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church for twenty years and coached baseball and football at the Clinton Recreation Department for fifteen years. Not only has he dedicated his life to serving his community and youth, he also served in the United States Air Force where he was a drum major for the marching band. Edward Taylor and many others just like him brought liberty to millions throughout the world during a very dark time of world-history, and he is one of the giants of his time who made America great by doing his part day in and day out to influence the lives around him and serving our country every step of the way. Congratulations to Mr. Taylor on 90 great years. May God continue to bless him. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the proclamation of the mayor of Clinton. ``Edward W. Taylor Day'' Happy 90th Birthday Whereas, family and friends will come together at Coharie Country Club, 101 Coharie Lane, Clinton, NC, on this day, Saturday, February 9, 2019, and celebrate the life of MR. EDWARD W. TAYLOR; and Whereas, February 12, 2019, will mark the 90th birthday of this outstanding man of Clinton, Sampson County, North Carolina; and Whereas, Mr. Edward W. Taylor was born February 12, 1929 in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina; and Whereas, he has been blesed throughout the years and others have been blessed by him in many ways. He has contributed much to the City of Clinton and surrounding areas as a band director at Clinton High School for 36 years that won titles at the state and national levels in some of the most prestigious events; and Whereas, his name is known throughout the land: he led Clinton High School bands that marched the Lion's Club Parade in New York, Atlanta, and New Orleans and won events at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC; the Dogwood Festival in Knoxville, TN; and the Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA; and Whereas, he also served as choir director at Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church for several years. Now, therefore, I, Lew Starling, Mayor of the City of Clinton, North Carolina, do extend good wishes and hereby proclaim this day, Saturday, February 9, 2019, as: ``EDWARD

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, Senator Louis Pate, of Mount Olive, North Carolina, recently retired from the North Carolina General Assembly after more than 16 years of serving the great people of eastern North Carolina. I had the pleasure and honor to serve with Louis in the North Carolina Senate. We shared representation of Wayne County, and I can attest to what a great member he was. Senator Pate is known across the State for his leadership, compassion, and commitment to public service. He is a Vietnam war combat veteran, having served 20 years in the United States Air Force earning multiple service medals for his bravery while defending our country. His commitment to advocating for those who serve our country was a top priority during his time in public office, and I know he has been honored to represent the fine men and women serving at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina. During his tenure in the State senate, Louis spent much of his time working to implement policy to strengthen and improve access to quality healthcare, including major reforms to Medicaid so the program would better meet the needs of those for whom it was designed to help. Senator Pate's legacy as a statesman, mentor, and friend to many will continue to impact all those who cross his path. I wish him and his family many blessed days ahead.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, many in North Carolina and around the country are mourning the passing of our friend and colleague, Congressman Walter B. Jones, just as much as we are. Our dear friend humbly served the great people of eastern North Carolina in the State legislature and in Congress for more than 30 years. Having known Walter for more than 23 years, I can attest to his great faith in our creator and his servant's heart. Congressman Jones was elected to Congress with the 1994 class, and it was in his first term that I met him. I was brand new to the Hill myself, working for U.S. Senator Jesse Helms at the time. Senator Helms and his wife, Dot, quickly became great fans of Walter, so much so--and many may not know this--that even after Senator Helms passed, Dot Helms would cut radio ads for him up until her passing just a few years ago. What Dot and Jesse Helms admired about Walter was no different than what everyone else across the State of North Carolina and throughout the country who knew him admired: his character, his adherence to his convictions, and his commitment to serving others. He was a staunch advocate, of course, for those who made the greatest sacrifice of all while serving our country. He constantly worked on behalf of our troops and veterans every single day, especially those who were based in his district at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville and Cherry Point in Havelock. Congressman Jones dedicated his life to serving others. He stood strong for his beliefs and even stronger for his faith, always choosing to do what he believed to be best for his constituency, our State, and our Nation. The citizens of this State and country have lost a great friend whose life made a real difference for so many. His honesty, faith, and integrity will not be forgotten.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my good colleague and friend, Austin Scott, for his leadership on this, as well as, certainly, the chairman, Chairman Bishop from Georgia, whom, by the way, I have heard lots about for many, many years from many mutual friends that he and I both have. I look forward to working with him not only on this, but on many other matters as they come before us. There is absolutely no question: agriculture all across the Southeast has been significantly damaged, devastated in many, many parts. In North Carolina, we are still reeling from the hurricane in 2016, Hurricane Matthew. And then, of course, Hurricane Florence came and hit not only the same areas that Hurricane Matthew hit, but hit a much broader area of North Carolina. In fact, why don't we just say it really devastated and inflicted a lot of harm all across eastern North Carolina, this on top of a 5-year decline in farm income not only in North Carolina, but across the country. So you have had a significant shortfall in income for all these farm families all over the country, North Carolina included. Then comes Hurricane Matthew in 2016, floods all those out who are in its path. And when I say ``floods,'' I mean a real flood, flooding that you have not seen in many, many years. And then Hurricane Florence comes in 2018. It is not only the same areas that Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016, but hits a much broader geographical region in North Carolina and elsewhere. So over the last 5 years, you have not only had a huge decrease in farm income, you have had all kinds of natural disasters--not just in North Carolina, but elsewhere. As a result, all these farm families have lost all their equity. They have no equity left. Without the disaster recovery package that Congress has previously passed and what we hope to pass eventually here, that is contained in this body of work today, will be a start to rebuild, to enable these folks to cash-flow, to enable them just to get the financing that they need to put in the ground a new crop for the year 2019. So I commend both of my colleagues for their help and their support on this, and I encourage the rest of the body to join with us and adopt this amendment.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, Columbus County and many throughout North Carolina and beyond are mourning the passing of Mr. James C. High, known to his many friends and colleagues as Jim. As the publisher of The News Reporter, a family-owned newspaper in Whiteville for 61 years, Mr. High was a strong advocate for a free press and was highly recognized in the industry for making The News Reporter a leading community newspaper. He has been long admired in the community for his years of dedicated leadership, service to others, and distinguished contributions to Columbus County. Mr. High's impact went beyond just the newspaper. He helped lead the effort to create the Committee of 100 to bring industry and jobs to Columbus County. He was influential in many different capital campaigns, including those for the Carolyn T. High Memorial Library, the Whiteville High School gymnasium, the Angel House Hospice Care Center, and many others too numerous to list. Jim High was a vital part of Columbus County, and he will be greatly missed. His was a life lived well, and he leaves a great legacy of enrichment that will continue to benefit many.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Missouri for leading this Special Order and her great leadership in so many respects and, particularly, in this regard. Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely no question about it. Our Nation is in the midst of a humanitarian and national security crisis at our southern border, one that is growing by the day, and its impact is far- reaching. Unfortunately, many of these illegal aliens are very dangerous individuals with criminal records, members of gangs, and others coming for nefarious purposes who are exploiting the loopholes and current immigration laws. This has led to an increase in human trafficking and a lethal spike in drug trafficking that is striking rural and urban communities, alike, all across this great land. During the past 2 years, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records, including those charged or convicted of 100,000 assaults and nearly 30,000 sex crimes. Data shows that 31 percent of women and nearly 17 percent of men are sexually assaulted en route to the border. The situation is so bad that nearly 70 percent of migrants are victims of some form of violence during their travel. Now, let's talk about the drugs. Heroin and fentanyl are hitting rural and urban America in epidemic proportions. Just this past year, there was a 73 percent increase of fentanyl and 22 percent increase in heroin brought across the southern border. In fact, approximately 90 percent of the heroin brought into this country is smuggled across. According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2017 alone, more than 70,000 lives were lost due to drug overdoses. They published this just this past December 18, more than 70,000 lives. The drugs coming in across the border are destroying lives, separating families, and robbing this country of great talent that is so badly needed. Almost every business owner I talked to tells me what a hard time they have trying to find workers because, in so many cases, they can't pass a drug test. My home State of North Carolina also suffers greatly from the prevalence of human trafficking. In so many cases, this, too, starts at the southern border. Here is the bottom line: Criminal organizations and others are utilizing illegal immigration as a way to make billions in profit and cause harm to countless victims in the process. A barrier in the right places makes a lot of common sense. The President is asking for a little more than 230-some square miles of steel barrier out of almost 2,000 miles of border. This shouldn't even be a debate. Give me a break. Mr. Speaker, this is a crisis that requires bipartisan action. I applaud President Trump and his commitment to securing the border, and I am proud to stand with him until it is done. I urge our Democratic colleagues to come to the table. This is a negotiation. This is a process. Come to the table and let's work it out, and let's do what is right for the American people.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, our country has been and continues to be the greatest force for good known to mankind. The men and women of our military have played a central role in this virtuous effort. There was no greater time of difficulty and challenge that tested this notion more than during World War II. H.R. 6118 provides a way to honor the major contributions made by our cities during World War II by granting the Secretary of the Interior the ability to designate one city each year as a World War II heritage city, provided that city meets the criteria for recognition outlined in the legislation. As many from the Greatest Generation know, World War II required a nationwide effort to assist with the many components of war production. Yet, there are many all across this great land who do not know that cities from across the Nation stepped up in a major way to assist with defense manufacturing and the production of food, clothing, and other necessary goods. No one can attest to these efforts better than Captain Wilbur D. Jones of Wilmington, North Carolina. Captain Jones is retired from the U.S. Navy, a distinguished author, an active veteran, and a war historian who has worked to preserve our States' World War II history for the past two decades. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Captain Jones for his hard work and steadfast dedication to this cause. Without his leadership, the idea, introduction, and passage of this bill never would have come to fruition. This legislation will provide every city that contributed to the many heroic World War II efforts an incentive to preserve that history, a great and noble undertaking so that all citizens will have a better understanding of our history and even more pride in our great heritage. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member of the committee for their help with and accommodation of this bill. I would also like to thank our State Legislature for their very active support and endorsement, the Wilmington City Council, and Mayor Bill Saffo. I also should mention the great work of Senator Burr and Senator Tillis on the other side of the Capitol for their help in getting this legislation passed so that, hopefully, it will be signed into law by the President in the next couple of weeks.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, as everyone knows, southeastern North Carolina has experienced one of the most devastating hurricanes to hit our State in recent memory. The eye of Hurricane Florence made landfall in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, and then proceeded to slow walk down the coast before turning inland, resulting in historic flooding, massive power outages, and devastating destruction to homes, businesses, and farms. Sadly, this storm has taken the lives of at least 35 North Carolinians to date. What has transpired in my district is truly heartbreaking. But in the face of diversity, we have come together stronger than ever. I want to make special mention and thank all the first responders; linemen; emergency, military, and medical personnel; as well as the elected officials at all levels, local business leaders, the news media, and all the countless numbers of citizens who are volunteering to help our communities by opening their hearts and wallets to those who need it. I also thank President Trump and his administration for their rapid response and commitment to helping all those who have been affected. Working together, we will build our communities back stronger than ever, make no mistake about it.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman here, the ranking member, and so many others who have worked so hard on this legislation, which, I might add, could not be more timely for the State of North Carolina. I want to thank our leadership team in the House and so many who have worked with me and the North Carolina delegation to include the disaster relief funding specific to Hurricane Florence. This is a critical first step of additional support from this body and Congress as a whole, and I also want to commend my colleagues Senator Burr and Senator Tillis on the other side of the Capitol for all their great work to get us to this point today as well.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Chairman, North Carolina's Seventh Congressional District is fortunate to have some of the most beautiful beaches and waterways in the United States, which are major contributors to our State's vibrant tourism industry, attracting more than 50 million visitors a year and generating more than $22.9 billion in revenue. This Water Resources and Development Act is critical to strengthening our country's infrastructure projects, all of which are so critical to the Nation's economy. In the district I represent, Carolina Beach's Coastal Storm Damage Reduction project reached the end of its 50-year authorization in 2014. While the Army Corps of Engineers works to complete their study to determine future authorization of this project, this bill provides for continued authorization in the interim and long-term certainty of nourishment should the Corps study be favorable and funding available. Our ports, beaches, inlets, and waterways are the lifeline of economic activity and job growth for our coastal communities, and they are incredibly important for the Nation as a whole. I thank Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio and the rest of my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for putting forth a strong bill that addresses the unique coastal needs of North Carolina's Seventh District and makes great improvements to current law enabling critical projects to move forward while saving taxpayer dollars in multiple ways. A job well done. I urge everyone's support.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Chairman, North Carolina's Seventh Congressional District is fortunate to have more than 63,000 veterans call it home. Unfortunately, many of these brave heroes encounter a variety of problems that require congressional action, whether through casework or legislation, as is the case with my amendment tonight. Recently, a veteran battling Parkinson's disease contacted my office in a desperate attempt to modify the beneficiary for his survivor benefits plan. In this particular case, the veteran is fighting for his life, and because one currently can only make changes during open season, he is unable to change the beneficiary of his plan. My amendment will provide flexibility, via waiver, to veterans such as this gentleman who desire to change beneficiaries. I appreciate my colleagues' support for this amendment so that terminally ill veterans are given the ability to update their survivor benefit plan as they wish, when they wish.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Chairman, America's farm families have had to weather a 5-year recession with depressed prices resulting in a 52-percent drop in net farm income. Two-thirds of our farming operations today are in economic trouble, and chapter 12 bankruptcies have risen by 33 percent in just 2 years. So it is no secret that our Nation's farmers and ranchers are struggling. I hear all this talk during the past month about a free market, how everything would be so much better without farm programs. ``We want a complete, total free market,'' they say. From an intellectual and philosophical standpoint, I would love that. We all would. But here is the problem: that isn't the real world. There is no free market when you have countries all around the world subsidizing their agriculture production to the hilt. For example, Communist China agreed to a subsidy limit as part of their accession to the WTO in 2001. But what do they do? They exceed that subsidy limit by $100 billion on just three crops alone in 1 year. That is no free market. Farm programs account for 0.24 percent of the total Federal budget, and in return, every individual and family in this country is guaranteed an abundant, affordable food supply, and the very best nutritious food at an exceptionally affordable price. That is, quite frankly, a huge return on a relatively small investment, not to mention what agriculture means to our rural economies and our trade balance with the rest of the world. American agriculture is more than just being the best producers in the business and feeding the world. It is about food security and national security. Once a farm is gone, it isn't coming back. It is not like your local hardware store that goes out of business; it is not like that space isn't going to be replaced by another business; it will. Farms, on the other hand, are replaced by developments taking some of our very best farmland out of production.

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Chairman, we have lost 44 million acres of farmland during the past 30 years. Mr. Chairman, passage of this farm bill is absolutely critical to the livelihood and success of our farm families and food supply. I encourage and hope that every one of us will vote for this bill. This farm bill strengthens the farm safety net while making other vital improvements to current law that will benefit our farm families, rural communities, and animal agriculture sector--such as the establishment of a new U.S.-only vaccine bank to prevent Foot-and-Mouth disease, authorizing $1.1 billion to provide broadband service to harder-to-serve rural areas, and providing the Secretary of Agriculture with tools necessary to help combat the ongoing opioid crises which is hitting rural America especially hard. Additionally, this farm bill makes common sense changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to encourage work and provide for job training. The vast majority of Americans would agree that if you work you should be better off than if you don't work. Under this bill, we simply ask that those who are of working age and are perfectly capable, work 20 hours a week. And, if one can't find work we will pay for their job training so that everyone can attain the skills necessary to get the job they want. The unfortunate reality is that we have too many SNAP recipients stuck in the program with no pathway to upward mobility. Why? Because current SNAP requirements are outdated and riddled with loopholes that incentivize the status quo and fail to support those who need it most. In fact, more than 2/3 of work-capable adults on SNAP are not currently employed. Today unemployment numbers are at 3.9 percent. In the year 2000, the last time unemployment was this low, there were 17 million people on SNAP. Today, we have more than 41 million people on SNAP yet the unemployment is exactly the same. Mr. Speaker, if that doesn't illustrate the problem, I don't know what does. We must do better. This farm bill puts this country on the path to do just that. It makes much needed reforms to ensure that recipients of these benefits-- those who are perfectly capable of work--have a pathway to upward mobility, can get good jobs, and ultimately use their God-given talents to achieve a rewarding career.