David Rouzer

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. It is a great honor to be with the gentleman here tonight, and I commend him for his great leadership on this issue. This really, really is a great, great bill. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP, as we all know it, is a nationwide food assistance program that provides a nutritional safety net for low-income families and individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements. Now, I think the vast majority of Americans would agree that, if you work, you should be better off than if you don't work. Our farm bill makes commonsense 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 can use their God-given talents to achieve a very rewarding career. That is what this is all about. As we drafted this farm bill, we stayed focused on providing those who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances the ability to lift themselves up and the ability to succeed and contribute to society. Another aspect of the farm bill I want to highlight is in the nutrition title as well. It provides assistance to low-income seniors through the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. This vital program increases the consumption of good quality food by expanding, developing, and aiding in the development and expansion of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture programs. It does so by providing seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods such as fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs. Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the commonsense reforms included in the 2018 farm bill among many, many more. I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will take the time to really study and understand what these reforms will mean to our farm families, rural America, and the upward mobility created for those individuals and families in this country who need a helping hand.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, an unforeseen medical condition prevented me from voting on 2/7/2018. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 61; YEA on Roll Call No. 62; and YEA on Roll Call No. 63.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to pay tribute today to the late Reverend Billy Graham, a very cherished Christian leader and exemplary North Carolinian. Born on a dairy farm almost 100 years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina, Billy Graham grew up learning the value of hard work, personal commitment, and developed an unwavering commitment to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After being ordained and graduated from Wheaton College, Billy married the love of his life and fellow student, Ruth McCue Bell. Shortly after, he began preaching throughout the United States and Europe, emerging as a rising young evangelist. By 1949, at the young age of 31, Billy was launched into international prominence following his Los Angeles crusade. Originally scheduled for just 3 weeks, the crusade in Los Angeles had to be extended to more than 8 weeks, due to the overwhelming interest and overflow crowds. During his lifetime, Reverend Graham preached all over the world, from remote villages in Africa to the Middle East to the former Communist bloc. I find this feat quite notable, considering the hostility that communists and tyrants of all stripes have for Christianity and their hatred for the spread of the Gospel. Without question, Billy Graham was preaching in hostile territory; and without question, God protected him. It is said that his ministry reached an estimated 215 million people in more than 185 countries, and probably many more than that. After hearing the messages and teachings of the Holy Scriptures, many of those millions accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. There is no doubt that Billy Graham was called by God to share His Word, and he did so with wisdom and humility. In fact, I believe he heeded that call as well, if not better, than anyone else ever has. His legacy and influence in the world will continue to be felt for generations to come. If there has ever been a good and faithful servant, it is most certainly Billy Graham.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and encourage the thousands of great, noble North Carolinians participating in the 2018 March for Life this weekend. We know from God's Word, the Holy Scriptures, that life begins at conception. Unfortunately, since the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, more than 59 million innocent lives have been terminated through abortion. That is almost six times the population of North Carolina. Without question, it is our moral obligation to fight for and protect the lives of those who cannot speak for themselves, the talented and able lives of those who are no different than our own. Today and every day, I am honored to stand with those who so bravely fight to protect the most vulnerable among us. With each passing day, we shall continue to advance this very noble cause.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to make it back to Washington, D.C. to vote on the evening of 1/8/2018 due to inclement weather conditions. Had I been present, I would have voted Present on Roll Call No. 1.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Amy Wright, the cofounder of Bitty & Beau's Coffee Shop in Wilmington, North Carolina, on being named CNN Hero of the Year. When Amy and her husband, Ben, found out that 70 percent of adults living with disabilities do not have jobs, they opened the doors of Bitty & Beau's in January 2016 with the goal of providing these worthy individuals the opportunity to interact, contribute, grow, and succeed in the workplace. As those in Wilmington know, Bitty & Beau's is more than just a place to grab coffee. It is a warm, inclusive environment with exceptional customer service. Named after their two children who have Down syndrome, the coffee shop employs 40 exceptional individuals with disabilities. Congratulations to Amy on this very special honor. Her and Ben's contribution to our community and our fellow man is truly remarkable and an inspiration for us all.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I greatly appreciate my colleague from Colorado for leading this Special Order on the Bible, its importance to each of us, and its influence on our constitutional Republic. Our Founding Fathers understood that Biblical values were the basis for our Republic and that this country would be slowly destroyed if the people's knowledge and adherence to those values were ever lost. In reference to this danger, John Adams wrote: ``Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes, and no man's life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these would soon mold itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities, all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit, and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and abominable cruelty of one or a very few.'' In a simpler language, that means ``tyranny.'' When Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States early in the 19th century, he wrote in ``Democracy in America'' that our Nation's ``religious atmosphere was the first thing that struck me on arrival in the United States.'' He believed that adherence to the virtuous standards was indispensable for the preservation of liberty. Mr. Speaker, he was correct in this assessment. This brings me to one of my own favorite passages in the Bible: the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy, in 2 Timothy 3:16 through 2 Timothy 4:5. And I might add that I find this passage to be more and more relevant to our times with each and every passing day. It reads: ``All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. ``I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. ``For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears and will turn aside to myths. ``But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of the evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.''

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, I was attending the funeral of a friend. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 558 and YEA on Roll Call No. 559.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to say that North Carolina is home to many great student athletes that serve as community role models. One prime example is MacKenzie Gore who graduated from Whiteville High School this month and has been named the 2017 Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year. And, not only that, he was just recently selected 3rd overall in the Major League Baseball draft by the San Diego Padres! MacKenzie not only demonstrates athletic excellence, but also exemplary character and work ethic--the two primary traits necessary for great success. Very few have achieved as much as early in life, and it's the culmination of years of hard work and commitment. As with all who earn success, MacKenzie is blessed to have a big decision to make: go pro and play for the Padres or head to East Carolina University to play for the Pirates. Whatever MacKenzie decides, we are all proud of him and wish him the very best.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Miss Greater Sampson County, Victoria Huggins, who won the 80th Miss North Carolina Scholarship Pageant this past weekend and will go on to represent our great State in the Miss America pageant this fall. During the competition, Victoria also won first place in the Quality of Life Award which honors her dedication and work on her community service platforms. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a native of St. Pauls, Victoria is a member of the Carolina in the Morning team with the NBC affiliate WECT in Wilmington, North Carolina. During her tenure as Miss North Carolina, Victoria will focus on her work advocating for Alzheimer's disease awareness. On behalf of southeastern North Carolina, congratulations, Victoria. We wish you the best of luck as you represent our great State over the next year, compete in the Miss America pageant, and continue to enrich the lives of others.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 329.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that North Carolina is home to many great student athletes that serve as community role models. One prime example is MacKenzie Gore, who graduated from Whiteville High School this month and has been named the 2017 Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year. Not only that, he was just recently selected third overall in the Major League Baseball draft by the San Diego Padres. MacKenzie not only demonstrates athletic excellence, but also exemplary character and work ethic--the two primary traits necessary for great success. Very few have achieved as much as early in life. It is a culmination of years of hard work and commitment. As with all who are in success, MacKenzie is blessed to have a big decision to make: go pro and play for the Padres or head to East Carolina University to play for the Pirates. Whatever MacKenzie decides, we are all proud of him and wish him the very best.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, June 15, I was absent from votes on account of attending funeral, and had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 308--``yea.''

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me to make special mention today of the retirement of Craig Souza, a gentleman who has contributed decades of service to North Carolina through his leadership in providing quality health care facilities throughout the state. Craig has served as President and CEO of the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association since 1977. He is a proud graduate of East Carolina University (ECU) and has the distinction of having served as chairman of the ECU Board of Trustees. Mr. Souza has served in a number of leadership roles, including his service on the UNC Board of Governors, as past president of both the American Society of Health Care Association Executives and the Association Executives of North Carolina; and as a member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine, the North Carolina Social Services Commission and the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators. He also served with distinction as deputy secretary of the North Carolina Department of Human Resources. Throughout his career, Mr. Souza has carried out his service with integrity and dedication providing our state with valued leadership and counsel in every endeavor. In his retirement, Craig plans to continue to enjoy spending time with family, traveling, playing golf, watching Carolina Panthers football, and cheering on his beloved ECU Pirates. On behalf of the State of North Carolina, thank Craig for his years of commitment and service. I wish him the very best as he enters this next chapter in his life.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained at the White House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 235 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 236. personal explanation

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to make special mention of Pat Bradford, who recently stepped down as publisher and editor of the local paper she founded, the Lumina News. The Lumina News has served as the voice of Wrightsville Beach and its surrounding communities since 2002. This local paper covers a wide range of topics but sets itself apart by covering matters especially important to coastal communities. The Lumina News has consistently been ranked first in its North Carolina Press Association newspaper category. In fact, first in nine new top awards for 2016. With her recent departure from the paper, Pat is focusing her attention on the very successful monthly sister publication which she co-founded, the Wrightsville Beach Magazine. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Pat in the past few years and will certainly miss interacting with her as publisher and editor of the Lumina News. Congratulations to you, Pat, for your continued success in all these endeavors and for your continued contributions to the Wrightsville Beach community and beyond.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a North Carolina legend as he celebrates his 90th birthday this week. Mr. Carl Lamm, who many know as ``the Voice of Johnston County,'' has been a pioneer of the country music radio scene since 1946. ``Mr. Carl,'' as he is known, has been a disc jockey and co-owner of WMPM-AM in Smithfield, North Carolina, since 1958, where he plays a lively mix of bluegrass, Southern gospel, and old-time country. His daily programming is revered by tens of thousands throughout Johnston County, North Carolina, and all across the Nation. In the seven decades Carl has been on the air, he has brought some of the greatest musicians, top athletes, and national political figures into our homes and businesses through radio to discuss current events, politics, our Creator, and much more. Mr. Carl has witnessed the evolution of radio from the glory days of the Grand Ole Opry to the digital age of the 21st century. To say that Mr. Carl Lamm is a radio legend is an understatement. Carl Lamm, thank you for everything you have done for our State and for our country. Again, happy birthday.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, Scott Graves will soon be leaving his post as staff director for the House Agriculture Committee to pursue new opportunities, and it is my privilege to recognize his many contributions over the years to farm and ranch families all across America. Scott has served as a trusted advisor to Chairman Mike Conaway for nearly twelve years. His start as an intern is a familiar one to many Capitol Hill staffers. In Scott's case, he started out as an intern for the House Agriculture Committee in January 2005. It was at that time when I first met Scott. I was a staffer myself back in 2005, working for U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole. Scott's knowledge, sound judgment and strong work ethic eventually elevated him to staff director of the Committee where he has led efforts to increase innovation in agriculture, improve markets, strengthen our farm economy, reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, repeal the Country of Origin of Labelling law and much more. Without question, Scott has been a vital contributor to the many legislative successes of the House Agriculture Committee. There's no doubt Scott will continue to have great success in his new endeavors. On behalf of the fine farm families and consumers all across North Carolina, thank you, Scott, for your hard work and dedication to America's farm and ranch families and our rural communities. You will certainly be missed.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. ``. . . provided, that the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. ``This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.'' Amendment XIX: ``The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. ``Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, it was 16 years ago when I was embarking on a run for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture that my uncle told me there was a man I needed to meet. That man was James H. Langdon, whom we all call J.H. Today I rise to honor his service in the North Carolina House, which will soon officially come to a close. A former ag education teacher, J.H. has served six terms in the North Carolina House and has either taught or represented practically every citizen in Johnston County and beyond. As chairman of the house agriculture committee, J.H. has been a tireless advocate for agriculture and our farm families. I know of no one who talks less but does more, which I attribute to his great and abiding love for and faith in our Creator. J.H.'s legacy will be felt across the State of North Carolina for generations to come. On behalf of the citizens of Johnston County and the countless individuals he has touched, I wish him and his wife, Lena, much happiness as they continue their wonderful journey together.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend, North Carolina Representative Leo Daughtry, as his tenure in the State House officially comes to a close. Leo has served as a strong voice for the fine citizens of Johnston County and commonsense conservative principles since first being elected to the State Senate in 1988. During his tenure in the State legislature, Leo has stood tall and fought tirelessly for the taxpayer and common sense in government. His guardianship of the judicial branch is well known, and I am honored to have had the privilege to work alongside him during my two terms in the State legislature. Leo has served our great State of North Carolina for nearly 3 decades in Raleigh, and he will be sorely missed. He leaves a great and distinguished legacy--one that every North Carolinian can be especially proud. On behalf of the countless citizens whose lives Leo has touched, I wish him and his wonderful wife, Helen, much happiness as they enter their next chapter in life.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to make mention to the fine ranking member of the committee that we did reach out, certainly, to as many staff on the Democrat side as we possibly could. Perhaps we could have done a little bit better job of that, but I do want to make mention that we did make that effort--a point duly noted, though--and we will follow up multiple times the next time I have a bill that I think the gentleman would be interested in. Mr. Speaker, I filed H.R. 5015, the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act, after learning that nearly 14,000 veterans from all 50 States and the District of Columbia who suffered service-ending, combat-related injuries never received the full amount of their severance payment because taxes were wrongly withheld. Let me repeat that: nearly 14,000 veterans did not receive the money to which they were entitled because of a taxing error made by the Federal Government. Now, in case you are wondering how this error occurred, here is some background: the Internal Revenue Code excludes recurring disability payments from taxable income for personal injuries or sickness resulting from active service in our Armed Forces. In 1991, a Federal district court case, St. Clair v. United States, determined that one- time lump-sum disability severance payments received for injuries resulting from active service should be excluded from taxable income as well. Despite this court decision and the resulting regulatory guidance that stemmed from it, taxes on combat-related disability severance payments have been withheld for many years. As was mentioned earlier, the Defense Finance and Accounting System claimed this was due to the limitations of its automated computer payment system. Go figure. Regardless, this is an issue that needs to be addressed. Many of the veterans affected are not even aware that their benefits were improperly reduced. In most cases, the 3-year period in which they could file an amended tax return to get their money back has long since passed. This legislation directs the Department of Defense to identify instances of improper withholding and determine how much these combat- wounded veterans are owed. Those veterans who were adversely affected will then be able to apply to the IRS to receive the money they are rightfully due. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines risk their lives every day to protect our freedoms, our values, and our Republic. The revelation that there are thousands of veterans who did not receive their full disability severance pay is unacceptable, and it must be corrected immediately. Today we can make a great step towards rectifying this problem. I think we can all agree that these veterans deserve no less for their service and sacrifice to our Nation. I want to make special mention of Senator Boozman of Arkansas and Senator Warner of Virginia who have sponsored an identical bill in the United States Senate. Their leadership on this issue has been absolutely critical. I commend this legislation to my colleagues and encourage its passage.

Mr. ROUZER

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Chairman, I have come here to the floor this afternoon because there is a specific and, I would argue, unique public safety concern that I have in my district right along the Intracoastal Waterway. Specifically, it is right there at Southport Marina. Let me give you a visual description of what is taking place there. When you are traveling up the Intracoastal Waterway, particularly from the south, you can't see the Southport Marina at all. There is not a no-wake zone there. Because you can't see the Southport Marina, these boats, particularly the recreational users, fly right on through there. This is a high traffic area, particularly during the spring and summer months when you have a lot of recreational boaters on the water. This is a growing area. In fact, this has been a public safety concern for some time; so much of a public safety concern, that the State of North Carolina passed a law requiring that this area adjacent to the Southport Marina be a no-wake zone. The problem is the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard won't recognize it. So let me give you this mental picture again. You have got the Intracoastal Waterway, you have a marina that most boaters, particularly those speeding up from the south, can't see on the left- hand side. They are flying through there. You have all kinds of boats coming in and out, recreational boats coming in and out of the marina. This is a major accident waiting to happen. The local sheriff's office is quite concerned about this. The local government and county commissioners, town, and all of the local citizens are quite concerned about this. Again, I want to stress that there has been so much concern about this that the State of North Carolina passed a law requiring this area to be a no-wake zone. So this is not an amendment in any way, shape, or form to require or attempt to persuade the Corps of Engineers or Coast Guard to get in the business of no-wake zones. However, it is designed to encourage the Corps and the Coast Guard to work with the locals and the State to address this significant public safety issue. The amendment is narrowly crafted so as to avoid creating any other speed bump, for example, up and down the Intracoastal Waterway. And there is an exception made for tugboat operators, because I certainly recognize that they have to maintain a certain speed in order to get the cargo through the waterway. I encourage my colleagues to support the amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROUZER. Will the gentleman yield?