Lamar Smith

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 5640, the Electricity Storage Innovation Act, which is part of the majority leader's Innovation Initiative in this House. The legislation will prioritize basic energy research and innovation and provides important statutory authority and direction for the Department of Energy's groundbreaking basic research in electricity storage. Electricity storage is one of the next frontiers in our energy future. Innovations leading to advanced, next generation batteries could help bring affordable electricity and renewable energy to the market without costly subsidies or mandates. By investing in the basic scientific research that will lead to advanced battery technology, we can enable utilities to store and deliver power produced elsewhere on demand. This will allow us to take advantage of energy from all of our diverse national resources across the country. As the Nation's lead Federal agency for basic research in the physical sciences, the Department of Energy's Office of Science is the ideal leader for this fundamental scientific research. The DOE, national labs, and our universities have the resources and capacity to pursue the science necessary to understand and develop advanced electricity storage systems. H.R. 5640 authorizes the Secretary of Energy to carry out a basic research initiative of advanced chemical and material science focusing on multivalent systems, mesoscale electrochemistry, and high- performance computational modeling and simulation. This legislation also provides the necessary statutory direction and accountability for translational research in electricity storage, bridging the gap between fundamental science and private sector innovation. H.R. 5640 focuses the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on early stage research that will not be undertaken by the private sector. H.R. 5640 also outlines the Federal Government's role in research and development by prohibiting the use of this program's funds for the commercial application of energy technology. The transformative breakthroughs in energy science achieved by researchers at our national labs will empower the private sector to develop innovative electricity storage technologies. The private sector is best suited to bring new battery technology to the commercial energy market. By directing DOE to conduct this research using existing funds in the Office of Science and the EERE, this legislation ensures responsible use of limited tax dollars for basic research. In short, there is no new or additional spending in this bill. Scientific research, like the work authorized in this Electricity Storage Innovation Act, requires a long-term commitment. While this groundbreaking science will eventually support the development of new, advanced energy technology by the private sector, Congress must ensure limited Federal dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. Federal research and development can build a foundation for the next major scientific breakthrough. As we shape the future of the Department of Energy, we must prioritize basic energy science and research that only the Federal Government has the resources and mission to pursue. I want to thank my colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee for their bipartisan support of this important basic research initiative. I encourage all of my House colleagues to support this legislation tonight. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber), who is the chairman of the Energy Subcommittee.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5640) to provide for the establishment at the Department of Energy of an Electricity Storage Basic Research Initiative, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5640 authorizes innovative basic research that will lead to the next generation of electricity storage technology. By harnessing the expertise of our Nation's national labs and universities, we can lay the fundamental scientific groundwork for the private sector's development of new, transformative advanced batteries in the future. I especially want to thank my colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee who have cosponsored H.R. 5640. They include Dan Lipinski, Steve Knight, Randy Neugebauer, Bill Posey, Randy Hultgren, Randy Weber, John Moolenaar, and Brian Babin. I also want to thank the dozens of researchers and stakeholders who provided feedback as we developed this legislation. I want to reiterate that H.R. 5640 authorizes no new Federal spending. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this commonsense, bipartisan legislation, which is part of Majority Leader McCarthy's Innovation Initiative. Finally, Mr. Speaker, tonight we are considering four Science, Space, and Technology Committee bills, and I want to thank the staff members involved. They include, Chris Wydler, Molly Fromm, John Horton, Cliff Shannon, Sarah Jorgenson, Aaron Weston, Emily Domenech, and Ashley Smith, whose birthday is today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for yielding me time. As Congress continues working toward a multiyear authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 will ensure that safety and security research and development activities are authorized. Pursuant to rule X, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has legislative jurisdiction over ``civil aviation research and development,'' regardless of the funding account from which the research and development is appropriated. Earlier this year, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology marked up and passed out of committee a 3-year civil aviation research and development authorization for the FAA, the Flight R&D Act. This important legislation was introduced by Representative Stephen Knight. Many provisions from the Flight R&D Act are now in the 2016 FAA extension we are considering tonight, and I very much appreciate Chairman Shuster's including them. These provisions include the development of a cybersecurity research and development plan, a study on metrics to streamline the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace, a research plan for unmanned aircraft systems traffic management, and the establishment of an unmanned and manned aircraft collision research program. These are important, pressing Committee on Science, Space, and Technology R&D provisions that will increase public safety and private commerce. I look forward to working to include the remainder of the Flight R&D Act provisions in a larger FAA bill next year. I encourage my colleagues to support Chairman Shuster's resolution.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. First of all, I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar), the vice chairman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, for introducing this important piece of legislation. I am pleased to cosponsor H.R. 5639, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Improvement Act of 2016, to authorize the policy and programs of this leading Department of Commerce technology agency. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, supports scientific and technical research and services that are critical to American innovation and industrial competitiveness. NIST helps maintain industrial and technical standards, manages cybersecurity guidelines for Federal agencies, and promotes U.S. innovation and international competitiveness that enhances economic security and improves our quality of life. In 2007, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law the first COMPETES Act, which implemented President Bush's major domestic research policy priority, the American Competitiveness Initiative. The centerpiece of the American Competitiveness Initiative was the prioritization of basic research in the physical sciences and engineering. Physical sciences research develops and advances fundamental knowledge and foundational technologies that are used by scientists in nearly every other field. The American Competitiveness Initiative calls for strengthening Federal investments in these areas by reallocating existing Federal resources to the three major innovation-enabling basic research agencies: the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's Office of Science and its national labs, and NIST's core lab research and facilities, which is the subject of the bill before us tonight. H.R. 5639 authorizes NIST's programs that contribute directly to U.S. economic competitiveness, including NIST laboratory programs, education and research initiatives for young scientists, and industrial technical services. Again, I want to thank Science Committee colleague, Vice Chairman Moolenaar, for his efforts, and I again urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk), who is the chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee, for his significant oversight work on this issue and for introducing the result of that work, this bill, H.R. 5636. I am pleased to cosponsor the National Institute of Standards and Technology Campus Security Act to help improve the safety and security of NIST facilities and their surrounding areas. Last July, a senior officer with the NIST Police Services Group attempted illegal production of meth at one of the laboratories located at NIST's Gaithersburg, Maryland, campus. The officer, who was previously the acting chief of police at the Gaithersburg campus, amazingly caused an explosion that burned his face and arm and blew out the lab windows. It is shocking that a Federal agency didn't know that a meth lab was being run on its property right under its nose, and, without the explosion, it might never have been discovered. The meth lab explosion and subsequent investigation have raised serious concerns about the safety and security of the entire NIST operation. Further, information obtained during the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's investigation of the meth lab appears to show a pattern of waste, fraud, abuse and misconduct by the NIST Police Services Group. For example, according to a recent Department of Commerce Inspector General's report, the very officer who caused the explosion on NIST's campus had committed time and attendance fraud by claiming that he worked many hours when he did not. So how do we know that this is not happening throughout the Police Services Group at NIST? These unfortunate examples undermine and jeopardize NIST's mission to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness, which enhances economic security and improves our quality of life. This legislation is an important step forward to analyze the work of NIST's Police Services Group and outside contractors to ensure that they are adequately securing both NIST campuses to protect NIST employees, contractors, visitors, and surrounding communities from any potential hazards. This legislation and a thorough review, evaluation, and report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office will provide further recommendations and options to ensure a safe and secure NIST in the future. Again, I want to thank Chairman Loudermilk for his work on this matter, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the gentleman from California, Energy Subcommittee Vice Chairman Knight, for yielding me time on H.R. 5638, the Solar Fuels Innovation Act. This legislation provides necessary statutory authority and direction to the Department of Energy's groundbreaking solar fuels research program. I appreciate Vice Chairman Knight developing and introducing this legislation, which is the product of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's hearings, oversight, and stakeholder outreach. Research to create fuels from the Sun, also known as artificial photosynthesis and photosynthesis replication, relies heavily on the study of advanced chemistry and materials science. By prioritizing these areas of fundamental physical science, researchers at our national labs and universities across the country can develop processes that take energy from sunlight and create a range of chemical fuels. This basic research could provide the scientific and technical underpinnings for the private sector to develop solar fuel systems that eliminate the problem of the intermittency of direct solar energy and make it a reliable power source for chemical fuels production. H.R. 5638 authorizes the Secretary of Energy to carry out a targeted basic research initiative on photochemistry, electrochemistry, biochemistry, and the materials science necessary to develop the complex systems to convert sunlight into usable and storable fuels. H.R. 5638 focuses the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on early-stage research that will not be undertaken by the private sector. DOE must focus on this kind of groundbreaking R&D while the private sector is responsible for finding ways to deploy innovative technology in the commercial energy market. The Federal Government does not have unlimited resources to pursue every technology innovation. By directing DOE to conduct this research using only existing funds in the Office of Science and EERE, the legislation redirects currently authorized funds. The Department of Energy has the capability and knowledge to lead on this type of long- term basic research. This groundbreaking science can lead to the development of innovative advanced energy technologies by the private sector. Again, I want to thank Vice Chairman Knight and both my Republican and Democratic colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee for supporting this basic research initiative in solar fuels. As part of Leader McCarthy's Innovation Initiative, this legislation deserves the support of our House colleagues.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a recent study on the media was conducted by the Newseum Institute and USA Today. Not surprisingly, it found that three-quarters of Americans feel the news media are biased in reporting, and only 10 percent said the Presidential election coverage has been ``very accurate.'' Most Americans realize the liberal national media are trying to destroy Donald Trump and elect Hillary Clinton, but the media are paying a heavy price for their biased coverage--they are destroying their credibility in the process. The danger of a biased media goes beyond two individuals and an election. It is a threat to democracy, itself, when the voters can't get the facts. The media should not tell Americans what to think. They are smart enough to decide for themselves. As the study determined, you just can't believe what the liberal national media says.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Media Research Center recently issued a report highlighting the three major news networks' slanted coverage of the Orlando terrorist attack. The Center found that ABC's, NBC's, and CBS' broadcast network programs ``flooded their shows with statements favoring gun control over gun rights by a ratio of 8 to 1.'' The Orlando attacker was a radical Islamic extremist who pledged his allegiance to ISIS before committing the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001. Instead of focusing on gun control, the liberal national media should tell the American people the full story about the Orlando attacker's radical Islamic views as the cause of these killings. Not a single gun control measure in Congress would have prevented his actions.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, two recent reports demonstrate the degree to which Federal immigration laws are not enforced by this administration. A new study by the Center for Immigration Studies shows that almost 1 million illegal immigrants have been ordered deported but remain in the country. The administration doesn't seem to care. A second report found that the administration refuses to take the steps necessary to send criminal immigrants back to their countries of origin. As a result, thousands of dangerous criminal immigrants are released into our neighborhoods; one-third commit additional crimes, including murder and sexual assault, against innocent Americans. Our borders are not secure. One-half million people come into the U.S. illegally every year. But the administration, instead of enforcing laws, wants to give amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. The immigration policies of this administration continue to hurt Americans.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) for taking the initiative on this innovation bill. And I am also pleased that the ranking member, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), is a cosponsor of H.R. 5312, the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of 2016. Mr. Speaker, in this digital age, advancing and protecting our Nation's computing and networking systems is more important than ever. This legislation ensures that Federal science agencies focus on networking and information technology priorities that are in the national interest, and it provides the coordinating R&D efforts necessary to improve cyber and data security nationwide. Better network security promotes U.S. competitiveness, enhances national security, and creates high-tech jobs. The NITRD Modernization bill is an update to the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991. The authorized program represents the Federal Government's main R&D portfolio for unclassified advanced networking, computing, software, cybersecurity, and related information technologies. Currently, 21 Federal agencies are contributing members of NITRD, with many additional agencies participating in the program. This bill serves as the mechanism for interagency coordination of R&D to produce a tighter focus without wasteful duplication of research efforts among Federal agencies or the private sector. This will help save taxpayers' dollars. It also rebalances agency R&D portfolios to focus less on short-term, incremental approaches and much more on large-scale, long- term interdisciplinary research to transform and enable new computing capabilities. Federal agencies are expected to invest more than $4.4 billion in fiscal year 2017 on NITRD Program activities. These investments go toward basic research at the frontiers of high-end computing, networking, and information technology. More than $1.1 billion of this is invested by the National Science Foundation and $720 million by the Department of Energy. This taxpayer-funded basic research is intended to keep the United States the global leader in high-end computing and networking, which is crucial to our future economic and national security. The bill does this by updating and reforming the underlying High-Performance Computing statute to reflect the current mature state of our vibrant computing industry. It also codifies the NITRD National Coordination Office, housed within the National Science Foundation, to oversee the participating agencies. The NITRD Program has eight strategic priorities for its enabling research: cybersecurity, autonomous robotic systems, high-end computing and applications, exascale computing, human-computer interaction, large-scale networking, workforce development, and software design. Technologies that develop from these research priorities are used by the commercial sector and the government to protect and enhance emergency communications, the power grid, air traffic control systems, our national energy resources, scientific discovery, human exploration, new product development, and national defense systems. Advanced networking and information technology supports and boosts American discovery and innovation, improves our international competitiveness, expands the U.S. economy, and, of course, creates millions of jobs. Mr. Speaker, American job creators also recognize the importance of networking and information technology research and development. Many industry partners and stakeholders have written letters in support of this bill. They include the Computing Research Association, the Computing Technology Industry Association, the Information Technology Industry Council, and the Texas A&M University System. As shown by hearings that the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has held this Congress, including the most recent on the FDIC, cyber breaches are becoming all too commonplace. This legislation encourages agencies to increase understanding of ways to detect, prevent, and recover from actions that compromise or threaten computer- based systems. I again thank our Science, Space, and Technology Committee colleague, Representative LaHood, for his efforts on this issue, and I also commend Majority Leader McCarthy for his vision in establishing a focused innovation initiative in the House of which this legislation is a part. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5312.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Loudermilk is the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's Oversight Subcommittee, and I appreciate all the work he has done on this bill. H.R. 5049, the NSF Major Research Facility Reform Act, is the second bill today that is part of Majority Leader McCarthy's Innovation Initiative. We appreciate all of his efforts on this and other innovation bills, which now total 17. This legislation addresses an issue about which the Science, Space, and Technology Committee has expressed concerns for the last 2 years: the National Science Foundation past management of major research facility projects. The Science, Space, and Technology Committee seeks to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent on research in the national interest, not wasted on mismanagement and questionable costs. This bill achieves that goal. It addresses gaps in project oversight and management through solutions identified by the NSF inspector general, auditors, an outside review panel, and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's own oversight for a year and a half. Last year, in the wake of several reports of project waste and mismanagement, NSF Director France A. Cordova agreed to commission a study by the National Academy of Public Administration to take a closer look at how NSF could better manage large-scale research projects. The study's report offered 13 recommendations to improve NSF's management of cooperative agreements. Although NSF has begun to implement some of the recommendations, there is still a need to implement four key measures addressed in this bill: preconstruction verification of total project cost, incurred cost audits during construction, better control over contingency funds, and proper use of taxpayer-funded management fees. The bill's approach to these four reforms ensures that no current or future large-scale research project faces the same financial mismanagement that plagued one of NSF's largest projects, the $400 million National Ecological Observatory Network, called NEON. Last September, we learned that the project was likely to be $80 million overbudget and 18 months behind schedule. I recognize that the NSF is taking steps to better manage the cost of NEON, which include firing the management organization; however, it is time to make systemic changes for all current and future major research projects. The accountability provisions in the bill have been developed with input from the minority, the NSF, and many stakeholders. We incorporated many of their suggestions during the markup of the bill in committee on April 27, and the bill was reported out of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee by voice vote. Our staff has continued to work with the minority on the report that was filed with the bill to make sure our intentions in the underlying bill are clear. Although I believe the current NSF leadership is committed to improving its management of these construction projects, we need to make sure that the NSF will make the systemic changes necessary in a timely and permanent fashion. This change of how the NSF does business should outlast the current administration. Many stakeholders have expressed support for the bill since it provides certainty for how the NSF will operate. All agencies as well as their grantees and contractors need to be held accountable for how they spend taxpayers' hard-earned dollars. The basic responsibility of any government agency is to act in the national interest. H.R. 5049 will reduce waste, fraud, and abuse and make more resources available for quality basic research. This will lead to scientific discoveries, spur technological innovation, create new industries, and provide better jobs for Americans. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this good government accountability bill.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Chair, House Resolution 5278 creates a board of managers to address the fiscal condition of Puerto Rico. However, Puerto Rican officials still have not been held accountable or accepted responsibility for their policies that caused the financial crisis. In fact, just the opposite: the Puerto Rican government ignored its fiscal obligations when it recently voted to approve a moratorium on repaying any of its debt. But it is Puerto Rico and not Congress who should take the first steps to adopt reform measures. There is no certainty that a financial oversight board would implement any economic growth measures to improve the Island's fiscal condition. The board has no mandate from Congress to address the bloated government workforce, high taxes, an insolvent pension system, limitations on trade under the Jones Act, and excessive welfare benefits, all of which helped cause the fiscal crisis. This legislation rewards bad behavior and represents a missed opportunity for Congress to insist on fiscally responsible reforms.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize the Blue Sky Foundation and their President and Executive Director, Dick Stockton, on behalf of the work they are doing for our nation's veterans and servicemembers. Drawing on his background in tennis, Mr. Stockton started a program within the Blue Sky Foundation called Thanking our Troops through Tennis or ``T3''. The idea behind the program was to thank the members of the United States Military and their families for the sacrifices they make on a daily basis, using the game of tennis as the vehicle to do so. Blue Sky has been taking the T3 program to various military bases over the last four years and has offered free tennis clinics to active personnel, spouses, children, Veterans and Wounded Warriors. The program has been well received, averaging 100 participants per event. Since July of 2013, Blue Sky Foundation has hosted seventeen events at different bases around the country, including Andrews Air Force Base, Fort Bragg, Fort Benning, Camp Lejeune, Randolph Air Force Base and Fort Jackson, among others. It has been a successful program and has the ability to continue to grow and benefit many more members of the military and their families. In appreciation of all they have done, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking them for their efforts.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today we congratulate the 2016 Service Academy appointees from the 21st Congressional District of Texas. The following individuals have accepted Academy appointments: John Richard Anthis, Alamo Heights High School, Greystone Preparatory School at Schreiner University, United States Military Academy; Chandler Ray Baker, Central Catholic High School, United States Military Academy; Heidi S. Borgerding, Boerne--Samuel V. Champion High School, United States Air Force Academy; Tamara Jean Fumagalli, New Braunfels High School, United States Air Force Academy; Gracie Sierra Hough, Jack C. Hays High School, United States Naval Academy; Mark Kittelson, Ronald Reagan High School, United States Merchant Marine Academy; Steven Thomas Lamoureux, Robert G. Cole High School, United States Air Force Academy; Scott Wagner McClendon, Westlake High School, Greystone Preparatory School at Schreiner University, United States Air Force Academy and Sean J. O'Leary, Heritage School, United States Military Academy. These outstanding students have much to give to their Academy and to our country. We appreciate both their talents and their patriotism.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the gentleman from Kentucky, Chairman Whitfield, for yielding me time. I am pleased to support the House amendment to the Senate Energy Policy Modernization Act. Division D of this legislation includes the three energy titles from the Science Committee's House-passed legislation, H.R. 1806, the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015, and H.R. 4084, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act. Division D is both pro- science and fiscally responsible and sets America on a path to remain the world's leader in innovation. America's economic and productivity growth relies on government support of basic research to enable the scientific breakthroughs that fuel technological innovation, new industries, enhanced international competitiveness, and job creation. Title V reauthorizes the Department of Energy Office of Science for 2 years. It prioritizes the National Laboratories' basic research that enables researchers in all 50 States to have access to world-class user facilities, including supercomputers and high-intensity light sources. The bill prevents duplication and requires DOE to certify that its climate science work is unique and not replicated by other Federal agencies. Title VI likewise reauthorizes DOE's applied research and developmental programs and activities for fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2017. It restrains the unjustified growth in spending on late- stage commercialization efforts and focuses instead on basic and applied research efforts. Division D also requires DOE to provide a regular strategic analysis of science and technology activities within the Department, identifying key areas for collaboration across science and applied research programs. This will reduce waste and duplication and identify activities that could be better undertaken by States, institutions of higher education or the private sector, and areas of subpar performance that should be eliminated. Title VII proposes to cut red tape and bureaucracy in the DOE technology transfer process. It allows contractor operators of DOE National Laboratories to work with the private sector more efficiently by delegating signature authority to the directors of the National Labs themselves rather than DOE contracting officers for cooperative agreements valued at less than $1 million. Also included is H.R. 4084, Energy Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber's House-passed Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act. It provides a clear timeline for DOE to complete a research reactor user facility within 10 years. This research reactor will enable proprietary and academic research to develop supercomputing models and design next generation nuclear energy technology. H.R. 4084 creates a reliable mechanism for the private sector to partner with DOE labs to build fission and fusion prototype reactors at DOE sites. Overall, Division D sets the right priorities for Federal civilian research, which enhances U.S. competitiveness while reducing spending and the Federal deficit by over $550 million. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, recently a prominent New York Times columnist recycled disproven assertions to criticize businessman Donald Trump's views on climate change. This type of alarmist rhetoric is what we have come to expect from liberal pundits and the media, but science doesn't back the columnist's claims. Extreme weather events are not getting weirder. There is no evidence that weather events such as hurricanes, tornados, droughts, and floods have increased in number due to climate change. Last year, at the Paris climate conference, the President said that fish swim in the streets of Miami because of a downpour caused by climate change. He was immediately contradicted by his own government agency that said the flooding was due to lunar cycles, not climate change. Climate alarmists should speak the truth, not try to promote a political agenda.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize one of my constituents who has dedicated his career to education. Bill Spurgin will retire at the end of the 2015-2016 school year after having taught for 50 years. Mr. Spurgin has spent his entire career teaching in the Blanco Independent School District. I have long considered teaching to be one of the most honorable professions in America. And there is nothing more valuable to a student than a great teacher. Mr. Spurgin's career is a testament to his dedication to education and his commitment to Blanco ISD. Mr. Spurgin came to Blanco ISD in 1966 as a business teacher. He has taught at three separate locations in Blanco and has worked with eight different principals and six superintendents. In appreciation for all Mr. Spurgin has done, the lives he has shaped, and his commitment to education, I join all of his family, colleagues, and students, past and present, in congratulating him on his outstanding career.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in a recent interview President Obama claimed that unemployment and deficits were down and GDP was on the rise. Contrary to his claims, Americans know the facts and are well aware of his failed economic agenda. Americans understand that the labor participation rate is at an historic low. Only 62 percent of Americans are employed or are seeking employment. One way to bring down unemployment is to create jobs. The other is to drive people out of the job market, which is what the president's policies have done. Americans also realize that the national debt has nearly doubled under the Obama presidency and will exceed $20 trillion before he leaves office. This continued out-of-control spending has given us slow economic growth and stagnant wages. American families know the facts about the president's failed economic policies.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, recently a U.S. District Court judge ruled that the administration's subsidy funding scheme for ObamaCare was unconstitutional. This marked a major victory in citizens' efforts to stop the President's failed healthcare law. However, the ruling was ignored by all three major news networks, leaving many Americans in the dark on the latest development involving ObamaCare. Last year it was revealed that ObamaCare created or hiked at least 13 different taxes. However, all three major networks also largely ignored this increased burden on taxpayers. It is no wonder that only 6 percent of Americans trust the media to give them balanced news. Americans deserve all of the facts about the President's failed healthcare law. The liberal national media should not ignore important information just because it conflicts with their political agenda.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Americans are skeptical about the news they receive on climate change. A recent Gallup poll found that 46 percent of Americans believe that the Earth's natural changes are the primary cause of climate change. Americans are split as to the cause of any climate change. However, the liberal national media only portrays one side of the story. Over the last month, every New York Times and Washington Post article on this topic attributed warmer temperatures solely to human activity. Not one mentioned that natural changes could partially be the cause. What is amazing is that, with all the media bias blaming humans for climate change, half of all Americans still remain skeptical. Americans deserve all the facts about climate change, not just the one side the liberal national media are trying to promote.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a new report by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reveals that last year the Obama administration released 20,000 illegal immigrants convicted of crimes into our communities. Together, they had committed 64,000 crimes, including kidnapping, homicide, drunken driving, and sexual assault. Instead of putting the safety of Americans first, the Obama administration often gives a free pass to violent criminals who are in the United States illegally. This report should have been national news. However, many outlets, such as the L.A. Times, Washington Post, and Associated Press, as well as the major television networks-- ABC, NBC, and CBS--failed to cover this horrific report. The American people deserve to know the truth about our immigration policies and the damaging consequences of the Obama administration's actions. When the national media intentionally fail to report the facts, the American people are the ones who literally suffer the consequences.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, in 2006, former Vice President Al Gore released his film, ``An Inconvenient Truth.'' Now, a decade later, most of Vice President Gore's predictions, inconveniently, have not become true. For example, he claimed that Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak, would be snow free within the decade; yet there is still snow on Kilimanjaro year round. Mr. Gore claimed that extreme weather would intensify due to climate change, but even the very liberal Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found low confidence that extreme weather events would increase in the future. Mr. Gore also, conveniently, ignored the 15-year halt in global warming. A recent peer-reviewed study published in the journal ``Nature'' confirms this hiatus. The only truth is that Mr. Gore's predictions, like those of many climate change extremists, simply have not become true.