Pete Sessions

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of one of truly great First Ladies in our Nation's history, Barbara Bush. As great as a First Lady she was, it pales in comparison to the kind of Mother, Wife, matriarch, and Grandmother she is. A great role model for all young women to follow. Our Nation's prayers go out to her and family. I include in the Record this poem penned in her honor by Albert Carey Caswell. The B in Bush, Raising the Bar (By Albert Carey Caswell) The B in Bush, Raising The Bar In every family In every house There is the greatest spouse The one who brings life into this world so all without Because, The Mother is The Heart of any home inside and out From which all great things come from no doubt Who bring the gift of life and love to this world to shout And who nurture and teach and raise their children with a love so devout And in that great American family of the Bush's, Barbara is The B in Bush clearly no doubt. Raising The Bar in what a Mother and Matriarch and First Lady are all about With the kind of grace, strength, leadership, love, and example this world cannot live Without. And love and dedication which brings tears to our Lord's eyes, and make's The Angels up oh high shout For Barbara Bush is the pillar upon which this great American family was built upon, so all throughout The rock and foundation we know of now With that great love story of her and George Herbert Walker so all throughout Who built such a great American family of love and accomplishment, for all the world to tout Such a woman of character, strength, and class, the kind of example to all our children we must pass For these are the things in life and into the future that which last Like The Beatles said, ``and in the end the love you send is equal to the number you make'' In 73 years, through heart break, triumph, happiness and tears Barbara's and George's great love has all of us endeared And even though he would not eat his broccoli it was clear, she still stood by her man here And now these words seem so clear For all our children to blossom and grow To find happiness know We must pass on to them such love and lessons so Of a Mother's Love like Barbara's to know, of such caring and warmth for a child to become whole And Heaven holds a place For all loving and dedicated Mother's like you Barbara, whose precious moments upon this world do not waste With all of your love and grace. For you are the B in The Bush family, the foundation, the pillar who raised The Bar make no mistake, And for you my love, HEAVEN AWAITS, And you will look into your daughter Robin's face.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Fallen American hero, Marc Alan Lee, who was KIA August 2, 2006. He inspired his Brother In Arms Chris Kyle to write his book American Sniper. March 20th would have been Marc's 40th birthday. The graveyards are filled with magnificent selfless heroes like Marc. The ones who have given That Last Full Measure for all of us over the years. He was the first Navy SEAL to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His Brothers In Arms knew him as a strong patriot, a fierce competitor, a loving husband, and a faithful Christian. l include in the Record this poem penned in his honor by Albert Carey Caswell. The First in Freedom (By Albert Carey Caswell) The First The First In Freedom The First in light In every war, in every battle, in every fight, there are always those who must be the first to die Which brings such heartache and tears of sorrow to loved ones' eyes Whose brave hearts must burn bright Who we all need this night So all at speed, so all in sight Those brave hearts who fight the fight Who bring their light Who evil must fight Who leave all they love to over evil rise above And lie down their most precious lives. As up in Heaven the Angels cry And don't ask why? All in their most patriotic hearts comprised And for all their Brothers In Arms ready to die As did you Marc all in your most magnificent heart comprised As realized Was such a heart of gold To all our children must be told To carry with us as we grow old And for you Marc, Heaven a place so holds When, in that moment of truth be told As it was you Marc who gave us the proof with your lessons of gold All in what is in a hero's heart to know And so, made up of so As into the line of fire you'd go All in that Selfless Book of America's Who's Who to know Who but for the greater good gave all they could That last full measure, for surely there can be no greater treasure As you became the first Navy SEAL in this war to lose your life, And oh how Marc your loved ones and Brothers will miss you so, But, they will hear you on the wind And when they awake they will feel your presence next to them, as overnight watching over you they have been. And when there comes a gentle rain, you will feel our Lord's tear wash down upon you to ease your pain Until, one day up in Heaven together you will all again And you won't have to cry no more The first to fight The first to die With tears in eyes we now ask why? As like you Marc its upon our faith we must rely Sadly, because Freedom is not Free But, only bought and paid for by you and all of these Who are the first to die Could we? Would we? In the moment of truth would we up to new heights so rise? SEALed with a kiss And now we lay your sacred body down to rest We pray for you and your family our Lord to bless. At Ease my son, for you are one of America's Best Who are The First In Freedom, who all of us bless. Amen.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Fallen American hero Marc Lee Allen who was KIA August 2, 2006. He inspired his Brother In Arms Chris Kyle to write his book, American Sniper. Last week on March 20th would have been Marc's 40th birthday. The graveyards are filled with magnificent selfless heroes like Marc. The ones who have given That Last Full Measure for all of us over the years. He was the first Navy SEAL to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His Brothers In Arms knew him as a strong patriot, a fierce competitor, a loving husband, and a faithful Christian. I include in the Record this poem penned in his honor by Albert Carey Caswell. The First in Freedom By Albert Carey Caswell The First The First In Freedom The First in light In every war, in every battle, in every fight, there are always those who must be the first to die Which brings such heartache and tears of sorrow to loved ones' eyes Whose brave hearts must burn bright Who we all need this night So all at speed, so all in sight Those brave hearts who fight the fight Who bring their light Who evil must fight Who leave all they love to over evil rise above And lie down their most precious lives. As up in Heaven the Angels cry And don't ask why? All in their most patriotic hearts comprised And for all their Brothers In Arms ready to die As did you Marc all in your most magnificent heart comprised As realized Was such a heart of gold To all our children must be told To carry with us as we grow old And for you Marc, Heaven a place so holds When, in that moment of truth be told As it was you Marc who gave us the proof with your lessons of gold All in what is in a hero's heart to know And so, made up of so As into the line of fire you'd go All in that Selfless Book of America's Who's Who to know Who but for the greater good gave all they could That last full measure, for surely there can be no greater treasure As you became the first Navy SEAL in this war to lose your life, And oh how Marc your loved ones and Brothers will miss you so, But, they will hear you on the wind And when they awake they will feel your presence next to them, as overnight watching over you they have been. And when there comes a gentle rain, you will feel our Lord's tear wash down upon you to ease your pain Until, one day up in Heaven together you will all again And you won't have to cry no more The first to fight The first to die With tears in eyes we now ask why? As like you Marc its upon our faith we must rely Sadly, because Freedom is not Free But, only bought and paid for by you and all of these Who are the first to die Could we? Would we? In the moment of truth would we up to new heights so rise? SEALed with a kiss And now we lay your sacred body down to rest We pray for you and your family our Lord to bless. At Ease my son, for you are one of America's Best Who are The First In Freedom, who all of us bless. Amen.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 796 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, last night, at a late hour, the Rules Committee met, where we had expert testimony that was offered on behalf of the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from New Jersey and the gentlewoman from New York. I would like to, if I could, express to my friend, Mr. McGovern, the professional nature not only that he but Judge Hastings, another member of the committee, represented the Democratic side at a time that is very difficult for them with the passing and loss of a tremendous leader in the House of Representatives, the gentlewoman from New York, Chairwoman Louise Slaughter. Mr. McGovern and Mr. Hastings not only conducted themselves, in my opinion, in a professional straightforward manner, but represented their party quite well in a time of distress and a time of need. I want to express my complete confidence not only in Mr. McGovern, but also thank Judge Hastings for his professional demeanor last night as we worked through very, very difficult issues till late in the night, till early in the morning. And compliments also to the gentlemen, the chairman of the committee and the ranking member for their professional conversations that were had that were in the best interest not only of the House of Representatives but the American people. I want to thank Mr. McGovern publicly at this time for his professional cause and substance. Mr. Speaker, today we rise in support of this rule and, of course, the underlying legislation. The rule provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 1625, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018. Mr. Speaker, this is funding the government for the rest of the year, through September 30. This is an important measure. This is an important measure not only for the American people, but it is important for Members of Congress. There are a lot of ways that we could stand and say what we are for or what we are against, but the bottom line is that this is a piece of legislation that has been worked on, on a bipartisan basis, Republicans and Democrats, give and take, and has been worked on the other side of the Capitol with the United States Senate. It is in no way a perfect bill. That, I think, I learned a long time ago, is hard to get through to be signed by the President. But with that said, it yielded amazing results in a process that needed to come to a conclusion. This 12-bill appropriations package provides funding for fiscal year 2018 at levels consistent with the bipartisan budget agreement and the National Defense Authorization Act. After years of neglect, this body has taken the important step of reshaping and rebuilding the United States military by providing them $659.6 billion worth of funding for our national defense. But it is for more than just national defense. It is also trying to give better protection to the men and women who protect us, the men and women who, today, are in cold, lonely, hot, dangerous places around the globe. Mr. Speaker, a much-needed $65 billion increase over 2017 fiscal year spending was essential. Mr. Speaker, the numbers speak for themselves. More members of our armed services gave their life in defense of this country in training exercises than they did in combat last year. This is a hardy reminder for Members of Congress and the American people to understand that our men and women not only fight hard, but they train hard. And in that defense, we need to do a better job to make sure that the equipment, the training, and the needs that they have are top flight year-round not just in combat areas, but in training missions where they are preparing to protect this country. Mr. Speaker, we have come a long way to that, and I am proud of the work that we have done. The agreement ends, I think, the irresponsible practice of pairing dollar-for-dollar increases in defense spending with nondefense. This is a hard fight. This is a hard fight not only Republican-Democrat, but across this country. We have tried to make some balanced decisions. We have tried to err on the side of using money for the best interest of research and development and to move this country forward. The bill strengthens missile defense. It strengthens and funds new weapons systems for the military. And it heavily increases designated counterthreats around the globe. As you know, Mr. Speaker, we are facing down one of the greatest threats to the world right now, North Korea. Now is not a time to shy away. Mr. Speaker, we will not shy away. These colors don't run. It funds additional national security priorities, including nuclear modernization, new nuclear submarines, and other important shipbuilding and aircraft procurement for our United States military. Quite honestly, Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger) and her counterpart from the appropriations committee looked at the exercise that is necessary and came up to streamline and make sure that the money that would be given would be necessary and only in defense of this Nation. This legislation also includes a long overdue 2.4 percent pay increase for our troops. The men and women who care for our veterans know that they need the help, and their service to this country will not be without a thank-you, thus providing a record level of VA funding, while increasing oversight to make sure that the benefits and treatment of our veterans is properly taken care of. The new Secretary Shulkin of the VA is very concerned about the duty that they have to our veterans, and he has assured us this amount of funding will allow he and the Department that opportunity to fix, correct, and, long term, know that the long-term safety for our veterans and their facilities will be accomplished. It provides robust funding to fight terrorism. It enhances criminal law enforcement and secures our borders by increasing funding for border security and the enforcement of immigration law. This legislation also includes new infrastructure funding for highways, waterways, airways, railways, and other infrastructure priorities to ensure public safety is taken care of and to promote economic growth. Mr. Speaker, it provides $4 billion, the largest investment to date, to combat the opioid crisis. We have spent a great deal of time not only working on this Member to Member, but also State organizations working with their members; Federal law enforcement; and the National Institutes of Health, through the direction of Dr. Shiva Singh, their chief medical officer who spent a great deal of time working with Members of Congress, opioid task forces, substance abuse task forces, and perhaps, most of all, the problems that we have that face this great Nation, where we have addiction problems. These are addressed within this spending bill. Increase in funding by $3 billion, certainly the head of the NIH, Dr. Francis Collins, believes that this investment in the National Institutes of Health, including the National Eye Institute and other important parts of NIH, will receive the funding that is necessary to ensure that the men and women of this country who suffer long-term effects of aging and other medical problems, that we can address them and live up to our responsibility. I thank Dr. Francis Collins and Dr. Shiva Singh for their instruction to our important Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tom Cole for his great work at the NIH--$2.3 billion in new funding for mental health training and school safety efforts help our children to make sure that our schools are safe. This is a brief rundown, Mr. Speaker, of the kind of work not only that we have dug in and done on a bipartisan basis, but the kind of work that I believe the American people want, need, and expect. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, to the gentleman from Massachusetts, I not only accept his advice about process and procedure, but I certainly would join in with him to thank our appropriators, the men and women who, on a bipartisan basis, Mr. Speaker, took time to wander to the other side of the Capitol to engage their colleagues. I can tell the gentleman, and he knows this probably on a firsthand basis, much was discussed. This was a big process. This was at the end of the year that I do agree with that should have taken place on October 1, not on March 22, that we decided where we are headed. But the discussion, the decisionmaking, the ability for both sides, both parties, to deal on the same issues has gotten tougher and tougher. I support our Speaker and what he is attempting to do. He has opened up the process. He has tried to make it to where the discussions take place on a bipartisan basis. And the Speaker, I believe, has tried to place before us, as Members of Congress, the opportunity to be heard, to represent our thoughts and ideas. I didn't win some of the issues that I was for. I held some ideas out about a number of issues that we had been working on that were contained in the bills that came out of the House only to come back months later from the Senate in a different priority, in a different way, and perhaps not exactly what I would have wanted. It would be easy for me to say, however, that the greater good of what we are attempting to accomplish is why we are here. Ultimately, we have a duty, Mr. Speaker, we have a duty and a responsibility, to ensure that which we finalize is in the best interest of the American people. The overriding concern here is to make sure that the efforts of government, albeit that we as Americans, I don't think, want to get all that we pay for from government, we still recognize that there are people in our midst that need a government--and I do, too--a government that works well and is funded properly. Mr. Speaker, last night we had an opportunity to hear from a number of my colleagues on the Republican side, a number of Members of Congress who spent hours waiting their time before the Rules Committee, not an unusual intuitive process from a number of our Members who had questions, comments, and concerns. I promised to address one of them. The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Massie) brought forth what was a discussion about what is known as the NICS fix, or, as we refer to it, fixing NICS, a NICS fix. Well, this is the database that is responsible for holding names and giving approvals for those people who purchase weapons across the United States. I agreed to provide some bit of an answer today and I hope some clarity on the issue that relates back to December of 2017. I told the gentleman last night that I believed that, while his arguments were important and I supported exactly the underlying ideas, and that is that we do not believe that agencies by themselves should have the ability to deny an American citizen the right, the constitutional right, for them to properly, legally own a weapon, as we do know and remember back during a previous administration, at least two agencies, the Social Security Administration and the Veterans Administration, developed procedures by which they believed were appropriate, but that I think have proven incorrect, to deny people a weapon based upon a criteria that they established. This fix NICS provision was corrected and is still in law, and, to the best of my ability in double-checking, I would now like to notify the gentleman from Kentucky that I believe it is properly done. I would not be a part of making a change in the law, as I told him, that would deny an American citizen under these two agencies without lawful consideration of a hearing and with due process, and based upon the law and constitutional requirements of our Constitution to deny someone their right to keep and bear arms. Mr. Speaker, please consider that I appreciate the gentleman who showed up last night until late, late in the morning, and that he was doing his duty, which I respect and admire, and I am trying to respond back to him. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I don't want to digress too much, but the gentleman from Massachusetts referred to a process that just was embarrassing and did not work. I recall, last night, testimony from the ranking member, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey): ``This is one of the best processes that I can recall. We have products that we can be proud of. We worked together.'' Mr. Speaker, it is hard doing business in this town. It is hard doing business because we have disagreements. But let us not also misunderstand that it was President Trump who challenged Congress when our previous administration simply went about writing their own rules and regulations that made the circumstances on our border not only more dangerous, but very costly for every single American by encouraging tens of thousands of people to travel through Central America to come to the United States, and for us to take them into the United States with illegality that has been ruled on by Federal courts in this country. A legal and lawful process is what President Trump is attempting to have this Congress do. He understands that power under Article I and the power under Article II. I believe that President Trump personally invoked hours of his time to make sure that he properly worked with Congress--key people from the House, key people from the Senate-- televised day after day to get closer on the issue that he felt could gain resolution. It is a hard issue. But to suggest in any way that President Trump is a culprit of anything except leading to the best I believe would be an unfair statement against his intended desire to resolve the issue. Mr. Speaker, last night, the Rules Committee, under the strong leadership of the gentleman from Georgia, Rob Woodall, and the strong leadership of Tom Cole, provided evidence-based information not just to sustain the document that we are here for, but actually to continue the explanation of what we are doing and why, including the balances of budgeting and those necessary items but also the content. Our vice chairman of the Rules Committee, the gentleman from Oklahoma, Tom Cole, doubles in his duty to Congress, and he serves as the lead appropriator, the chairman of the subcommittee that is responsible for health, NIH, and research and development. Mr. Cole's professional attributes really shined last night as he, with great pride, discussed major, hard issues facing this Nation, facing the United States, and facing the medical community in this country. I was very proud of not only his content with the substance, but also with the delivery of the product. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) to discuss this seemingly impossible work that he made possible.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Oklahoma an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the time remaining on both sides.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I have one additional speaker.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall), the Rules Committee designee to the Budget Committee, a gentleman who has served this Nation well and will continue to serve the Budget Committee well.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank not only the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) but also thanks to the minority whip for coming and engaging in this issue. Mr. Speaker, let us not forget that this last summer, last summer, we engaged in all 12 spending bills on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Appropriations Committee received over 700 thoughts, ideas, so to speak, amendments for them to consider. It was an open process. Mr. Speaker, on the floor, 232 amendments were a part of the process of the 12 bills. Last night, Nita Lowey, the ranking member, sat before the Rules Committee at about midnight and said: It is late, but the process worked. The process worked for Democrats. The process worked for appropriators to work on a bipartisan basis, and the process worked in the United States Senate. Mr. Speaker, two members of the Appropriations staff, Shannon O'Keefe and Nancy Fox, are sterling members of the professional staff of the House of Representatives who did one heck of a job to make sure our Rules Committee--staff and Members--got the information we needed. I agree the process should be better. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying bill.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, when the Committee on Rules filed its report (H. Rept. 115-614) to accompany House Resolution 796 the Committee was unaware that the waiver of all points of order against consideration of the motion to concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1625 included: A waiver of section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act, which prohibits consideration of legislation providing new budget authority in excess of a 302(a) allocation of such authority. A waiver of section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act, which prohibits consideration of legislation that would cause the level of total new budget authority for the first fiscal year to be exceeded, or would cause revenues to be less than the level of total revenues for the first fiscal year or for the total of that first fiscal year and the ensuing fiscal years for which allocations are provided.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. SESSIONS

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

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Lakshmi Chaparala, Ph.D.--Gothram Koundinyasa, on the anniversary of her death. Dr. Chaparala was born and raised in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India, on a particularly important day in the Hindu calendar--the date of Krishna's birthday--and belonged to a Hindu Brahmin Telugu community in India. Throughout her life, she educated thousands of students and believed that America is the greatest nation in the world. Lakshmi held strong beliefs that education, discipline, diligence, cleanliness and devotion to God are of utmost importance to succeed in life. Lakshmi is the loving mother of one of my constituents, Praveen. She is also survived by her husband, Dr. Babji Chaparala, along with her two other children, Suneetha and Swapna. She was an extraordinary woman who touched the hearts of many. Although no words can really help to ease the loss, her life was truly a blessing and she is held very close in thought and prayer. In honor of her memory, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Lakshmi Chaparala for her service to our country and her faith in our great nation.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and to recognize the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity--a values-based men's fraternal organization with more than 225 chapters in the United States and Canada, approximately 16,000 undergraduate members, and over 290,000 lifetime members. In 2018, Pi Kappa Alpha celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on March 1, 1868 at the University of Virginia when six young men joined together and resolved to form a fraternity for the establishment of friendship on a firmer and more lasting basis. Their commitment to high ideals of scholarship, leadership and gentlemanly behavior remain strong to this day. In 1868 there were 38 states. Pi Kappa Alpha predates two rows of stars on the American Flag. The nation of Canada, home to several Pi Kappa Alpha chapters, was founded one year earlier in 1867. The fIrst organized baseball and football games were played in 1869. Coca-Cola was founded in 1886 and basketball was fIrst played in 1891. Pi Kappa Alpha has persevered and grown through world wars, generational and cultural changes, depressions, recessions, and other challenges on college campuses that have at times threatened its existence. Its members have explored space, served as leaders of business and industry, filled the ranks of public servants in the arenas of education, government and the military; authored books; performed on athletic fields and entertainment venues. Throughout its history Pi Kappa Alpha has answered the call to arms to preserve and protect the United States of America and its friends and allies. More than 600 Pi Kappa Alphas are recognized as Gold Star Heroes, making the ultimate sacrifIce in conflicts dating back to the Spanish American War and including the War on Terror today. Pi Kappa Alpha has prepared nearly 300,000 men to lead on their campuses and in their homes, communities, and businesses. It has endured and it thrives today because valuing friendship, showing love for your fellow man and defending the truth of its ideals are timeless, lifelong virtues. Nearly 16,000 PIKE student members are impacting and influencing their campuses and communities today, serving as leaders in student government, Interfraternity councils, sports teams and student organizations. Collectively, PIKE chapters annually perform over 360,000 hours of community service and donate more than $3.6 million to philanthropy. These student leaders are supported by 2,500 men (and women) who volunteer to serve on advisory boards and house corporations. Over 150 alumni associations ensure that the admonition, ``Once a Pike, Always a Pike,'' remains true, inspiring the lifetime fraternal experience for its members. Pi Kappa Alpha seeks to enrich the undergraduate experience and the quality of its volunteer support through a comprehensive, industry- leading educational program that incorporates all aspects of the Fraternity including scholastic performance, personal development, leadership training, innovative learning, community engagement, campus involvement and participation. Today, in its 150th year, Pi Kappa Alpha calls upon its members to live anew its legacy, to reflect on the principles of its Founders and to commit to a strong future for its great brotherhood. As a proud member of the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity, I would like to congratulate the fraternity on its 150 years of success.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor tonight to recognize and honor my fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity. I came from Alpha Omicron Chapter in Georgetown, Texas, Southwestern University. Pi Kappa Alpha is an international fraternity, a values-based men's fraternal organization with more than 225 chapters across the United States and Canada, approximately 16,000 undergraduate members, and over 290,000 lifetime members. In 2018, Pi Kappa Alpha celebrates its 150th anniversary from its founding on March 1, 1868, at the University of Virginia, when six young men joined together and resolved to form a fraternity for the establishment of friendship on a firmer and more lasting basis. Their commitment to the high ideals of scholarship, leadership, and gentlemanly behavior remains strong to this day, which is the reason why I not only pledged my support to the fraternity, but why I support them today.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of a great American Hero, who touched and blessed so many lives. As an Ambassador of the Gospel he spread the word of our Lord and his Book of Love lifting people up. The Evangelist, The Reverend Billy Graham. I include in the Record this poem penned in his honor by Albert Carey Caswell. His Book of Love (By Albert Carey Caswell) His book of love A gift from above As was this To so uplift As God's kiss To touch all hearts As he did his part To help us walk with God With no facade Was Billy thou art To lighten our burdens To help open the curtain Which, separates us for certain To feel the presence of Jesus Christ, for all those hurting To give us hope and strength Reminding us of the power of faith, all in our short time with him spent Armed with his gift from God ever forth he went For the Reverend Billy Graham was such a man Grabbing hearts, as he took our hand A messenger from God in his life span With his Special Gift Which was all this To so uplift His book of love From above A humble man from the South A holy spirit who espoused The word of God, in his voice to all would shout With him we felt the presence of Jesus Christ, inside and out To Save us bringing us to tears no doubt No matter the denomination Or the color of one's skin, he fought against discrimination And hatred's abomination my friend As he walked with Dr. King As the Angels up in Heaven they'd sing We are all God's children in his equation He did not just talk the talk But, throughout his life he walked the walk For in the sonnets of our lives What have our moments comprised? All in our time realized And what have we left behind? Who have we Saved or helped in our time? Did we take or did we give? Because, it's all about how we've lived In our short lives To turn the good from bad, as Billy had To spread the word All in our actions and our deeds Which all else supersedes To give this world what she so needs In that battle as old as time Of GOOD versus EVIL which comes to mind For in our darkest hours, it's only our faith upon us which showers To strength and courage and hope to find the power To move forth all in that hour While, The Reverend Graham's faith above all so towered And yet he was such a humble man all throughout his hours So, strengthened by his beliefs, as onward this Christian Soldier battled to achieve A lifetime to Save souls and bring relief To walk with Jesus Christ, he'd speak With his shot heard around the world, to touch almost every woman and man, boy and girl As twelve Presidents counted on him so With his council of love, hope, faith, and peace to help them grow As a Soldier in the Army of our Lord, the path he strode He was put on this earth to help us know The greatest blessings are found in our Lord's plans we sow For almost 100 years on earth he walked here Because, God knew we needed him far more down here For his was an open tent into everyone who went As we could fill the oceans up with the tears he brought us to A great Crusader who with such passion God's word pursued Answering his calling, as you could almost hear the Lord saying, I love you As Billy asked us to take that walk of faith so true So, one day with our Lord we could live in Heaven's hue In Billy's presence, with God we were always knew The Holy Spirit So, all in him imbued As we could feel it coming through Whether, on a TV screen or listening to a radio, we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so true Giving us strength Giving us hope Giving us the faith to somehow cope As with each new word Billy spoke The Bible, the word of the Lord he invoked And with it in hand and upon a pulpit he would stand As you could feel the fire and brimstone, but even more the Lord reaching out his hand Telling us you're not alone Touching every women, child, and man Showing us God's plan Of resurrection and forgiveness and hope As the love of Christ invoked As thoughts to our Lord and Heaven awoke To take that walk down the aisle, as in that moment we began to smile To be Saved, all in his reassuring southern style As his voice and presence conveyed, such warmth and hope each day So simple, so strong, giving hope to all hearts who so longed As he was an ambassador of the Lord, so mighty and so strong And yet so kind like a love song In sermons out to hearts on Sunday's poured The word of God to all restore As all across the land in cars to work and churches more On radios in hearts he forged Words of gold to souls as the tears began to pour I know, because I was one of those for sure With his book of love the Angels him must have him so adored And tears of love flowing from our Lord And Billy look at your beautiful family, surely the sum of what love can be Making our Lord up in Heaven happy even more All throughout the world Billy wherever you spoke In heart, the love of Jesus Christ you awoke We will miss you my son, and all that you have done On earth in that war which must be won But, your voice and words and memory lives on Rise Rise, now my son Up to Heaven's gate as you have come With our Lord's arms around you, his chosen one With tears in eyes perhaps these words he's begun ``Billy, you never let me down my blessed son'' A new Angel in Kingdom Come To serve in The Army of our Lord this one To watch over us day and night America's son As happily a family reunites up in Heaven's Sun And now we lay your body down to rest We pray our Lord your soul to bless As you Billy were one of our very best Who touched so many lives and blessed Lifting them up with the gift of love to help them crest And let us remember, this man and his embers, he left behind to warm us in his time in His Book of Love, as we go out in our life's quests Amen.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, tonight I join to talk and to thank the leadership of the Republican Party, who made a firm decision during the last elections that our party needed to stand for not only making America great again, but every single American who needed an opportunity to join in that endeavor. Tonight, I stand in this beautiful time that we discuss the tax bill that Republicans passed last year and talk about the effects of it and how much it has helped in America. I think a story needs to be told about what the goal of the tax bill was. Why did Republicans work so hard to move these ideas forward? The bottom line to it is Americans watched as the Democratic Party and President Obama not only had their control of the country, but economically, as the policies of the Democratic Party became more apparent to people, Americans and the world watched as America dwindled in economic activity and economic growth. This took place because of the policies that the President, President Obama at the time, brought forth and Congress passed: trillion-dollar spending plans, trillion-dollar increases in the budget, and talk of raising taxes another trillion dollars. What happened is, for some 8 years, there was GDP growth of about 1.2 percent. Mr. Speaker, that means, very plainly, that it would take about 70 years to double the size of our economy, which means that communities and States and companies and individuals lag behind as they would watch other cities and other countries and other people around the globe not only have economic activity, but opportunities that came to their doorsteps. IPOs, or initial public offerings, and all the acronyms that go with economic growth and development went overseas; they went other places. So Republicans began this discussion with the American people going into 2010 that said: We need to be careful about government spending, but, on the same side, what we need to do is to grow our economy. That is exactly the discussion that took place during the last Presidential election. So as soon as the election was over, Republicans began the process of not only making America great again, but doing it by empowering every single State and every single American to be a part of this growth. Essentially, there was a look at some $12 trillion worth of economic tax components. Kevin Brady, who is the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, from Houston, Texas--actually, Spring, Texas--was in charge, as the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, of looking at how we were going to move our economy forward. I call that pop. How we were going to take economic activity and, instead of perhaps helping an individual or a company or necessarily one particular part of the economy, we wanted where it would go and add pop or generationally develop more economic activity than just for a singular entity. And Kevin Brady, as the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, looked at some $5.6 trillion out of this $12 trillion and said: We need to take that and make that the engine of the economy. So a decision was made to move that directly to the free enterprise system. Mr. Speaker, it is the free enterprise system that stands as the greatest activity for freedom in the world, an activity that not only brings opportunity and investment and entrepreneurship, but more than that, wealth. It has brought wealth to the United States of America, a free enterprise system that is there to produce for anyone that chooses to be participatory in that environment--an opportunity to begin by investing your own money, by hard work where you show up at work, and having customers or consumers that go and generate economic activity, and that is what America has been, and that is what we were slowing down. The engine of that economy was slowed down because our predecessors, not only in the Presidency but also our friends who are Democrats, believed that they would engage the free enterprise system in such a way that did not allow it to grow, did not allow it to expand, and did not allow itself to build. So what Kevin Brady did, as chairman of the Ways and Means, was propose a tax bill that would take $5.6 trillion worth of tax components and move it directly to the free enterprise system. By moving it to the free enterprise system, we reduced taxes. We reduced taxes from the 37 percent range for corporate down to 21 percent. What does that do? Well, that takes America, an American business as seen by the world, from 24th in the world to number one. So instead of us being what might be on a list of 24th place of easy-to-do business, that was generating not only goods and services, but was the ease of doing business with, that people wanted to be a part of, that has taken us to first in the world. That means that America will begin building back not only jobs and job creation, but it will build back with the intellectual capacity to build the newest, finest ideas and products that the world needs for tomorrow because America will be a place that is not only easy to do business but is less priced, and because we can be less priced, we can become the products of choice all around the world. So, Mr. Speaker, I want to say: This is working. This is working to take America not only where they are in first place, but it means Americans and American companies can be in the same position. As a Member of Congress from Dallas, Texas, I have an opportunity to see firsthand not only how this impacts people and companies but how it impacts the workers. And it wasn't but 2 weeks ago when I was at what was called the National Write Your Congressman, which is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Randy Ford is their President; and Randy gave me good news. He said that of the small businesses that they had talked to, that they believed that 74 percent of small-business owners expected revenues to be higher in 2018, and even higher the next year, which meant that they felt positive about not only economic growth but, more importantly, their companies. I also visited Texas Moving Company, which is a family owned business of some 40 years old that is in Richardson, Texas, and they told me, point-blank, that as a result of us making sure that we would reduce the cost of doing business by reducing taxes, that they had increased their driver's pay by over $2,400. That means that it does come directly to the employees that are able to have not only more take-home pay, but they are able to know that they can fall into more easily knowing that they may take a part-time job to a full-time job, a full-time job to a career, and a career as an opportunity to make sure that they better the lives of not only their family but their children also in their community. And this is why Texas Moving Company made a decision then, as they saw this money that they would have; they made a determination that they would increase their employees by $2,400, but they also increased their health insurance reimbursement to where they now pay $3,484 a year to help their employees to pay more of their healthcare costs because they can do that on a pretax basis. Mr. Speaker, it is all these things that the Republican majority has done. When others said it would simply be crumbs or unimportant, we said we are going to focus on making America great again; and when you do that, you will find that you not only make America great, but you make Americans and their families greater also. Mr. Speaker, this is why we, as Texans, stand up not only as proud Members of the Congress, but also as proud Americans who say: We want to make sure that everybody, no matter where they live in the United States, that they would be a part of making their city, their State, their company, and their family even stronger. I appreciate Mr. Mitchell allowing me to be here tonight. It is my hope that the discussion that we have with the American people and the Chair, Mr. Speaker, that you will recognize that if we are going to do this, it will mean that we are going to have to understand it is not up to government to make this work; it is up to the American people. We are giving them the tools in this tax bill, and I think they will do the right thing for everybody. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding to me this evening.

Mr. SESSIONS

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 734 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, during consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), the ranking member of the Rules Committee, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. General Leave

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.