Denver Riggleman

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, ``Right under your nose: A Mexican cartel turned this rural area into a hidden cocaine hub,'' reads the headline from over the weekend from our newspaper in southern Virginia. This article goes on to explain how a drug cartel has smuggled super pure meth, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs throughout the southern Virginia countryside. I have spoken on this floor about the dangers our rural communities face from illicit drug trafficking, and now in my district, Mexican cartels, famous for their extreme violence, are tearing local communities to shreds. I have taken action. I voted to provide funding that will help CBP agents stop drugs at the border. Securing our border cuts the head off the snake of these violent cartels. I have aided local law enforcement and pushed for drug trafficking designations in my district, and I have worked to fund treatment programs that help those battling addiction. We need to fight back against drug trafficking and take back the communities we call home.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of the American Dream; in favor of the bedrock of what has made America: capitalism. Yesterday, while every cable news channel was transfixed by the Intelligence Committee, the Financial Services Committee was discussing a bill that strikes at the heart of American capitalism. H.R. 3848, the companion legislation to Senator Elizabeth Warren's Stop Wall Street Looting Act, would add regulatory costs and harm job creators. It has a pithy title that is, unfortunately, misleading in purpose. I prefer to call it the stop entrepreneurship act. This bill would curb private investments in Main Street companies, which would kill jobs, stifle innovation, harm consumers, and strike a major blow to the hallmark of capitalism. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, even a modest scenario would result in the loss of 6.2 million to 24.3 million jobs across the country. As a small business owner who benefited from private equity when growing my business, I know the value of these types of organizations that provide support and really give a way forward for companies trying to grow.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 737.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. I am opposed to the bill in its current form.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, this amendment will not kill the bill but simply strengthen it so the House can send a strong message to China. I offer this MTR for a very simple reason: China is a problem. China is a major human rights violator; China is responsible for unprecedented amounts of personal data and intellectual property theft; and China's military seeks to extend its reach throughout the world. Based on my experience in the Department of Defense and in intelligence communities, I can personally attest to the multitude of threats China poses. If my colleagues across the aisle believe that part of a healthy Ex- Im Bank is ignoring the issues China presents, then go ahead and vote against this MTR and guarantee uncertainty for long-term Ex-Im reauthorization. But if, like me, you understand and care about what happens to freedom and democracy around the world, and if you care about human rights around the world and you want to see the Bank reauthorized with a purpose, then please join me in supporting this MTR that imposes necessary and just requirements for entities wishing to do business with Chinese state-owned enterprises. I want to share a quote from our Speaker of the House on China. When speaking to a group of survivors at the 30-year anniversary of Tiananmen Square, Speaker Pelosi said: ``We cannot allow economic interests with China to blind us to the moral injustices committed by China.'' And about an hour ago, the Speaker came to the well and documented Chinese human rights abuses and actions and said, ``It is against humanity.'' Well said, Madam Speaker. I couldn't agree more. I would also like to add that missing from that quote is that we should not allow economic interests with China to blind us to the threats of national security. In that same vein, earlier this week, the Financial Services Committee held a hearing focused on multilateral development banks. My colleague, Mr. Sherman, who is the chair of the Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, attended that hearing and spoke eloquently and forcefully, arguing: ``As long as China benefits one penny from this institution, it is an attack on the national security of the United States.'' Well, if Mr. Sherman is alarmed by World Bank loans benefiting small- scale farmers in China, surely he and his colleagues don't want Ex-Im assistance supporting China's largest semiconductor manufacturer, China's major technology providers such as Huawei, or China's Export- Import Banks or their state-owned shipping groups that are taking over ports in Europe, South America and other parts of the world as we speak. The questions we face today are not partisan. The question is: Do we as Americans, as Members of Congress that have sworn an oath to protect this country, allow Ex-Im to finance Chinese Government-controlled entities that are building military installations in the South China Sea, installations which one day may threaten the lives of U.S. servicemembers? Do we allow Ex-Im to support Chinese companies that support Beijing's brutal oppression of religious minorities in western China or the surveillance of freedom-loving protesters in Hong Kong? I use these examples to make the point that we are united in this body, and we should be. It is easy, it is simple, and it is good for America and American businesses and good for the millions of oppressed people in China that we pass this MTR. To make this amendment even easier to implement, it does not mandate any particular bureaucratic procedures for Ex-Im. My amendment achieves the same objective of the original bipartisan Waters-McHenry agreement, but provides more flexibility so that Ex-Im can remain nimble. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to say to all of my colleagues who claim to be interested in helping American workers and American businesses two things: pass USMCA, pass an Ex-Im reauthorization that is tough on China and also good for American workers. These things are not mutually exclusive. To borrow the phrase so many of my colleagues like to use: We can walk and chew gum at the same time. And we could do it easily today with bipartisan support. If the people's House does the people's business, then the Senate will take those measures up and the President will sign them into law and your constituents will thank you for it. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a dear friend, Jay Kistler. Jay passed away on October 14 of this year, after a life of heroism and bravery. He was 71 years old. He had been married to his wonderful wife, Sheila, for almost 50 years, and he was the father of Brooke, Kerri, and Jay Kistler III. Jay retired as a Navy captain and retired as the government lead for the Electronic Warfare and Countermeasures Office. Jay's forward- looking vision allowed him to project capabilities and actions decades into the future. He was respected by his peers, his subordinates, and his superiors. He was our adversary's worst nightmare. I will miss him as a naval flight officer, a commander, a decorated veteran, a family man, and my mentor. You changed everyone's life for the better, Jay. Fair winds and following seas, Captain.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Bedford County, Virginia, Sheriff Mike Brown on his retirement. After nearly 50 years of service Sheriff Brown will retire as the longest serving sheriff in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2017 Sheriff Brown was named National Sheriff's Association Sheriff of the year. In his time as Sheriff Mike has been a leader in advancing new technology in policing. These efforts include creating the Cyber SWAT task force. This organization helps teach children to identify cybercrimes and make sure that they do not fall victim to them. Sheriff Brown has also done incredible work in the fight against drug crimes and the opioid epidemic by working to designate Bedford County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Sheriff Brown has worked in law enforcement for almost half a century. Since beginning his tenure Mike has worked to ensure that Bedford County remains on the cutting edge of training, and that the Sheriff's office is well equipped to protect the citizens they serve. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Sheriff Brown for his years of service to the Bedford community and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Senior Special Agent Lazaro ``Larry'' Cosme who is retiring from his post as the National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association after 27 years of service. Special Agent Cosme has honorably served his country working as the top Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer for both Washington, D.C. and Virginia. He is a hero we can all be proud of. The 27 years Special Agent Cosme has spent in law enforcement have been a gift to our nation and our communities. As the National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Larry Cosme stood up for American police officers and fought to make sure they were properly trained and properly equipped for the difficult tasks they face. I am grateful for the work he has done and am proud to call him a 5th District Constituent. I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring Senior Special Agent Cosme and wish him a happy and restful retirement.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of God's Pit Crew, a Virginia crisis response team of Fifth District constituents who have done incredible work providing aid and support in response to over 130 natural disasters across the country and around the globe. Their work began in 1999 when Randy and Terri Johnson drove three truckloads of supplies to Oklahoma City after a devastating tornado. Twenty years later, their coalition of friends and neighbors has grown to over 400 members who have volunteered their time and skills to help those in need. Most recently, these Danville residents provided aid to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian this summer and the wildfires in Paradise, California, late last year. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing these Virginians for their service to our communities and the work they have done for those in need. God bless God's Pit Crew.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, 18 years ago, America experienced the worst act of terrorism in its history. Nearly 3,000 people were killed, with many others in emergency services and law enforcement suffering long-lasting health complications, sometimes resulting in death. September 11, 2001, a day none of us will ever forget, had a deep and lasting impact on the lives of all Americans. I was one of the thousands who answered the call to serve and to hunt down those responsible. When I woke on that tragic day, I was serving in the United States Air Force as an intelligence officer at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho with the 366th Air Expeditionary Wing, 34th Bomb Squadron--the B- 1 bombers. I was and am a proud Mountain Home Gunfighter. Our squadron deployed almost immediately as the on-call wing. By early October, I and my brothers and sisters in arms were mission planning the first bombing runs into Afghanistan. I still remember the morning of September 11. Memories come to my mind as vividly as if they were yesterday: buttoning the buttons on my uniform when my wife yelled at me up the stairs that a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York; a phone call seconds later that I, in no uncertain terms, needed to get my butt into the squadron to brief my commander on the situation and start loading Conexes; working through the night while the base was in lockdown and much of the country was in a fog; trying to answer questions from my young daughter, wife, and friends about what was happening. You are seeing my daughter, here, as I came home from deployment. My memories are not unique, and every American has a different viewpoint on what happened that day. Some lost friends or family, and the tragedy we as a nation felt that day should not be forgotten. But the impact of those attacks was not limited to that day, and history will write that heroic Americans responded with valor and bravery. One of the most heinous acts ever committed on American soil did not bring us down but brought us together. In the words of former President George W. Bush: ``One of the worst days in America's history saw some of the bravest acts in Americans' history.'' Less than 24 hours after the first plane hit the towers in New York, deployment orders came. I still remember that feeling, standing on the tarmac and then watching from the plane as my three daughters, all younger than 10 years old, waved small American flags from down below. I was deployed on Active Duty and would be spending the next weeks planning bombing runs on Afghanistan to respond to these attacks. Our Armed Forces are asked to make sacrifices; leaving their families is often one of them. But after 9/11, when so many Americans had sacrificed so much more, my brothers and sisters in arms were willing to make that sacrifice. Inspired by the heroism of so many firefighters, first responders, law enforcement, and citizens who answered the call, we knew that America would emerge stronger. Eighteen years later, we remember the heroes of 9/11, honor their sacrifice, and admire their patriotism. Their memories will last for us forever because we will never forget what they gave us, heroic Americans who answered the call. I was proud to serve with heroes like General Seve Wilson, Bull, Bullet, Eli, Scar, Jimbo, Rooster, Mongo, IROC, Stainless, Lost, Krenkle, Frengle, Sergeant Lowery, Migo, Psycho, Sassy, Tank, Rachel, Linda Vadnais, Atteberry, and so many more. From Ground Zero in New York to the Pentagon and across the country, American heroes answered the call, and we are forever in their debt. God bless the United States of America.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Jim McCulley of the U.S. Air Force who passed away this spring. Lieutenant Colonel McCulley was a decorated fighter pilot who flew over 100 combat missions in the Korean Conflict and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Jim returned home to Virginia where he continued his life of service to his country, this time working as an engineer supporting the Gemini and Apollo space programs. In his tireless service to our nation Jim McCulley was, and is, an American hero. He has been a valuable member of our 5th District community and we miss him greatly. It is my hope that we here in this chamber remember his work, his legacy, and his service.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Dr. Suzanne Eaton, an American biologist who was murdered in Greece on July 2nd. Dr. Eaton worked at the Max Planck Institute at Dresden University in Germany, where she was a leader in the field of molecular biology. Her colleagues described her as a woman with an insatiable curiosity and a humble, loving heart. The legacy she leaves behind is not one of sorrow. Instead, it is a legacy of discovery. Dr. Eaton's work advanced our understanding of the building blocks of life, and in doing so, provided an invaluable contribution to the understanding of humankind. For this, and for her, we are grateful. Today, it is my hope that we can remember here in this chamber her work, her life, and her legacy.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment, which directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan for a pilot program to train skilled technicians for placement in the defense industrial base, including critical shipbuilding skills such as welding, metrology, quality assurance, machining, and additive manufacturing. Mr. Chair, I would like to begin by thanking my friends, colleagues, and fellow Virginians, Representatives Luria, Wittman, McEachin, and Beyer, for their partnership on this amendment. Our Nation's defense industrial base is a critical aspect of our Nation's national security and economic prosperity. We must continue to adapt this industry to respond to the emerging challenges and global realities that face our country. One such challenge is training a workforce that can maintain the required tools and products our Armed Forces need. The Defense Industrial Base report to the President dated October 2018 stated: ``Without concerted action that provides both a ready workforce and continuously-charged pipeline of new employees, the U.S. will not be able to maintain the large, vibrant, and diverse machine tools sector needed.'' This amendment helps the Department of Defense close the gap in our Nation's workforce that threatens our global competitiveness and military capabilities. It will help America modernize its workforce and create a pipeline of new employees who support our security apparatus. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have to support my good friend from Wisconsin as we go forward. I am also in a very small business type of atmosphere in Virginia. I own a small business, a distillery, and for us, small businesses are one of the most important things we can support as we go forward. I am here today to support my colleagues and to support Democrats in a bipartisan fashion. This is something that we need to do, we have to do, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I don't need the 2 minutes to actually make sure that this happens. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and make sure we support small businesses in everything that we do.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Mooney, and I would like to also thank my colleague, Representative Axne, for introducing this legislation. I rise today to speak in support of this bill, the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act. This bill will expand the mission of the SEC Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation to identify the unique challenges facing rural small businesses and give them expanded access to the capital they need. As someone who, along with my wife, started a distillery business in the rural part of Virginia, I know many of the challenges faced by small business owners in rural areas. These small business owners are the backbones of communities across America and pillars of the local economies that help these areas thrive. According to Census data from 2017, one in five Americans live in a rural area. In my district, the Fifth District of Virginia, approximately 65 percent of the population resides in a rural area. These people deserve the same access to the financial system as urban dwellers and urban businesses. Running a rural small business is a challenge, and it is important for me as the Representative of the Fifth District to advocate for the needs of these small business owners. By expanding their access to capital, we can help small businesses grow and sustain rural communities. This bill will allow the SEC to help job creators and improve rural economies across the country. I look forward to working with the SEC and my colleagues to accomplish this mission. For these reasons and many more, Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation, and I urge everyone else to do the same.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, congratulations to the University of Virginia Cyber Defense Team on their national championship victory at the 2019 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Championship. The students won the Alamo Cup by defeating 139 other teams over the course of the competition. The NCCDC is a competition built to simulate the defense of cyber security networks. Each student team assumes administrative and protective duties for an existing ``commercial'' network and is responsible for protecting the network and responding to outside threats. I am proud that these UVa students are taking the lead to protect our economy and keep our nation safe and I look forward to what they will accomplish in their blossoming careers. These future leaders showcased their determination, ingenuity, and teamwork to bring home their second national title in as many years. Congratulations to the University of Virginia students for their continued leadership.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a small business owner concerned about the PRO Act, a bill that will harm both job creators and their employees. The PRO Act would amend the National Labor Relations Act and repeal right-to-work laws. Right-to-work laws protect employees from being fired for not paying monetary support to a union they don't want to join. The PRO Act also takes away employers' rights in National Labor Relations Board cases by taking away their standing and giving employers no recourse to the NLRB. My district is home to over 2,100 small franchise business owners that could be negatively impacted by this bill. It will hurt businesses like Arrington Enterprises, Inc., which operates Dairy Queens, Bojangles' Famous Chicken `n Biscuits, and Exxon stores in Franklin County. Aside from delivering a quality product, Arrington Enterprises, Inc., has collected close to $18,000 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and donated $4,800 to local schools so far this year. In closing, this bill would hurt local businesses and local workers.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Maryland, Representative Trone, with whom I have developed a bipartisan partnership that has resulted in these two amendments. The first amendment increases funding for Community Connect Grants to connect broadband deployment into rural communities that are underserved by private sector investment. Our rural communities, including some in my district, need access to broadband to keep up with the demands of the modern economy. This amendment will help communities close the digital divide, which is critical to enhancing economic opportunity, job creation, access to healthcare, and education in rural America. The next amendment, dear to my heart, increases funding for the Rural Health and Safety Education Program to combat the opioid epidemic in rural communities. Representative Trone and I and too many others in this body and in our country at large have seen friends and family members suffer and even pass away from the opioid crisis that has ravaged our country. Just last week, I lost my cousin to a heroin overdose. This funding is an essential step to turn the crisis around. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support these two amendments.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the sacrifice made by our brave men in uniform on the shores of France 75 years ago this week. As the dawn hours rose on June 6, 1944, the choppy waters of the English Channel were filled with American and Allied soldiers. Thirty of those brave men were from the town of Bedford, Virginia, a small hamlet nestled in the southern part of my district. These boys, who competed for the honor of being the first to reach Omaha Beach, etched their hometown into history as one with the highest per capita loss of life. By the end of that fateful day, when the sun had set on Omaha Beach, 19 Bedford soldiers were dead. Four more died in the Normandy campaign. Every one of them was a hero. Seventy-five years have passed, and yet, their heroism stands the test of time.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Madam Speaker, last week The Tony Awards announced that Theater Director Madeline Michel from Monticello High School in Charlottesville, Virginia, will receive the 2019 Excellence in Theatre Education Award. A panel of judges comprised of the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, Carnegie Mellon University and other leaders from the theatre industry selected Michel from finalists across the nation. The Excellence in Theatre Education Award was co-founded in 2014 by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University to recognize exceptional drama teachers and to celebrate arts education. Michel will receive her award at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards on June 9, 2019, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Teachers throughout the nation have the great responsibility of helping to develop the next generation, and Madeline Michel has demonstrated herself to be an exceptional educator; having received praise from many students, parents, and theater professionals across our community. Michel has shown through her creative, innovative approaches to theater, that she is committed to both training her students in theater arts and developing their character and integrity outside of the classroom. Madam Speaker, I hope you'll join me in congratulating Madeline Michel for her outstanding achievements in theater education for the students of Virginia's 5th Congressional District.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, if this unanimous consent request cannot be entertained, I urge the Speaker and the Majority Leader to immediately schedule the Born-Alive bill.