Scott Tipton

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, the Bureau of Land Management manages 245 million acres, or nearly 10 percent of the total area of the United States, and a whopping 700 million acres of mineral estate. Nearly all of this acreage is in our Western States, which makes it imperative that the agency extensively cooperate with the State and local governments during the planning process. It is true that the BLM's new planning rule, Planning 2.0, included revisions to several aspects of the planning process, some of which seemed to make some good sense. Unfortunately, the new rule also introduced a significant measure of confusion regarding how planning areas would be determined, and, most distressingly, diminished the historic and valued role that State and local governments play throughout the process. In many of the counties in my district, it is not uncommon for the public lands to make up well over half of the total area. For these communities, having an equal seat at the planning table isn't merely a luxury. It is an essential ingredient to ensuring that our way of life is proudly maintained over many generations and is not extinguished. Because of this, the BLM is required by law to consult and to coordinate with State and local governments and maintain consistency across their management plans and policies. Yet, the agency's new planning rule envisioned weakening that partnership in several regards. For one, the agency intends to dismiss consistency requirements with anything other than the officially approved and adopted plans. This not only places an undue burden on rural communities who likely do not have the resources available to draft and maintain comprehensive plans, but significantly lessens the importance of an array of other policies and agreements that are germane to the planning process. The importance of a State Governor's review of a Federal management plan is also reduced, as it appears to limit input only to the identification of inconsistencies with State and local plans, but precludes formal input and observations regarding other aspects of the plan. Americans the Nation over treasure our public lands and thoroughly enjoy our ability to be able to access them. But it cannot be denied that, in many of our communities, decisions made by Federal Land Management agencies like the BLM have amplified the impact. No planning process revision should weaken the voices of our communities as Planning 2.0 would do. For those reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I applaud the efforts of my colleague out of Wyoming for her efforts on this and urge passage of this resolution.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my thanks to my colleagues, Mr. Polis and Mr. Lamborn. I think among our three congressional districts, we hold the vast majority of public lands in the State of Colorado. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to work with you on these significant bills, to be able to address many of the challenges that we have, and to be able to work together in a bipartisan manner as well. Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me time to be able to discuss this important legislation. H.R. 698 is a very straightforward bill, which Congressmen Lamborn and Polis and I have reintroduced this year that confirms private ownership of 148 acres of land in my congressional district. The lands concerned were patented into private ownership via the United States land patents issued in 1914, 1917, and 1957, but their ownership came into question by virtue of a 1949 government survey which erroneously showed them to be National Forest land rather than private land. A long-held U.S. law specifically states that a government resurvey cannot take away private property or private property rights. Mr. Speaker, the Forest Service and the private landowner of the Elkhorn Ranch only became aware of the potential title issue in the early 2000s, and thereafter, the Forest Service conducted a lengthy and thorough review of the matter. Upon completion of their review in 2014, both the supervisor and the surveyor of the White River National Forest concluded the ownership of the 148 acres should be confirmed in the successors in interest to the original patentee; namely, the Elkhorn Ranch. In reaching this conclusion, the Forest Service noted that the land has never been managed as National Forest land and, indeed, has been fenced and occupied with stock ponds, developed springs, roads and other private improvements, and has been used as private land for ranching and agriculture for the better part of the past 100 years. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a simple matter of fairness and equity to a private landowner to honor government land patents that were granted by the Federal Government to the landowner's predecessors 60 to 100 years ago. The bill is supported by both the surveyor and supervisor of the White River National Forest; the Garfield County surveyor; the Garfield County Commissioner; the city of Rifle; Colorado Club 20, which represents 20 Colorado counties; and Piceance Energy, which has a lease on part of the area. In addition, the legislative hearing that was held on the same bill in 2015, the administration testified that this bill is a practical and workable way to address this longstanding issue. This bill is identical to the one that passed out of the House by voice vote in the last Congress, and I once again urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Once again, I extend my thanks to my colleagues Congressman Lamborn and Congressman Polis for all of their hard work on this legislation.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I know I, and many of my colleagues, share concern about a Federal regulatory code that has become so bloated with redundant, ineffective, and unnecessary rules that the sheer bulk of it threatens to suffocate American economic recovery and long-term prosperity. The Bureau of Land Management's rule to reduce venting and flaring from existing oil and natural gas operations is one such example of duplicative and unnecessary regulation. Aside from the fact that the authority to regulate air quality does not rest with the BLM, we certainly don't need the BLM rule in addition to the EPA methane rule and State regulations, which our colleagues on the other side have noted and lauded that have come out of the State of Colorado. For all of the costs this rule would impose on industry, the supposed benefits of the rule would be emission reductions in the neighborhood of less than one one-hundredth of a percent of global greenhouse emissions. That is the definition of an ineffectual rule. Methane is a marketable resource, and the oil and gas industry would prefer to economically capture and sell that resource, rather than vent or flare it, which is a necessary safety procedure in the absence of other viable options. Instead of using its authority to take actions that would effectively facilitate capture versus venting or flaring, like processing pipeline right-of-way permits in a timely manner, the agency has once again issued a rule that unnecessarily burdens energy development. There are cost-effective strategies available that will achieve emission reductions, and it is those strategies that we should focus our efforts on, rather than duplicative regulations. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, the United States is blessed with a wealth of domestic energy resources, allowing our Nation to responsibly develop safe, abundant, and affordable energy to meet our own needs. The Third District of Colorado has blue skies, clean water, while maintaining a healthy amount of responsible development of oil, natural gas, and coal production in its many communities. According to the Energy Information Agency, coal accounted for approximately 60 percent of the electricity generated in Colorado in 2015; yet this vitally important resource that provides affordable energy and jobs to many of our families' homes has come under attack. Backed by radical interests, the government has issued new rules and regulations under the guise of environmental protections, but whose true intent is to bankrupt the coal industry with regulatory compliance. The stream protection rule is a solution in search of a problem. Modern mining operations are already adept at avoiding impacts to watersheds, as the Office of Surface Mining's own numbers show. The industry is also already subject to a wide array of environmental statutes and regulations enforced by various Federal and State cooperating agencies. I urge the passage of this resolution and encourage my colleagues to support it.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) for offering the resolution under consideration today. This resolution of disapproval will repeal the SEC's resource extraction rule, which imposes burdensome disclosure requirements on public companies engaged in the commercial development of natural gas, minerals, and oil. The SEC's mission is to protect investors, maintain efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation. Unfortunately, the resource extraction rule is well outside the bounds of these mandates, which acting SEC Chair Michael Piwowar noted in his dissent of the rule saying that it `` . . . neither reforms Wall Street nor provides consumer protection and it is wholly unrelated, and largely contrary, to the Commission's core mission.'' When our businesses are being overwhelmed by compliance obligations, it is crucial that our regulators do everything in their power to ensure regulations do not actively disrupt growth by enforcing nonmaterial, socially motivated disclosures like those included in the resource extraction rule. The SEC itself has admitted that this rule will be costly. The SEC estimates that the ongoing compliance cost for the resource extraction rule could reach as high as $592 million annually and noted that the disclosure requirements could result in capital being diverted away from productive opportunities. An agency tasked with maintaining efficient markets and facilitating capital formation should not be promulgating unnecessary and burdensome rules like this. Dodd-Frank is full of examples like the resource extraction rule that require Federal agencies to engage in rulemaking on topics outside of their substantive experience and jurisdiction. In the future, I urge my colleagues to craft legislation in a bipartisan manner that only requires actions consistent with the mission of the applicable agency. Until then, however, it is necessary for Congress to exercise its oversight power to unwind these misguided regulations that have hampered economic growth. I am happy to lend my support to this resolution and encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense measure.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act subjects the SEC to enhanced cost-benefit analysis requirements and requires a review of existing regulations. By promoting economic analysis requirements during the regulatory process, this bill ensures that regulation writing is data driven and not done on an ad hoc basis with little thought to the true impact the expanding regulatory net has on businesses and the economy. It is a mistake for regulators overseeing our financial system and the capital markets, including the SEC, to promulgate regulations without fully considering the costs and benefits, as well as all of the available regulatory alternatives. This bill also takes the commonsense approach of requiring the SEC to evaluate whether a proposed regulation is inconsistent with, or duplicative of, other Federal regulations. When our businesses are being overwhelmed by compliance obligations that demand more and more time and resources, it is crucial that our regulators do everything in their power to ensure that regulations are effective, streamlined, and nonduplicative to minimize impact. It is important to note that this legislation does not limit the SEC's rulemaking authority in any capacity. The bill appropriately strengthens the SEC's existing cost-benefit-related requirements to ensure that the true impact of regulations can be calculated. To advocate for the status quo and against this legislation shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the financial system and the regulatory process. This legislation is a vote of confidence that, with the appropriate tools and a data-driven approach, our regulatory agencies can create a framework of safety and soundness that does not unduly burden our economy. I am happy to lend my support to this bill and encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense measure. I, again, thank the gentlewoman from Missouri for her efforts on this legislation.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Joe Gallegos, who served the County of Costilla, Colorado as a Commissioner for over ten years. Joe passed away on December 11, 2016, and will be greatly missed in the San Luis Valley. Joe was a fifth generation farmer in San Luis, and his love for the land in the surrounding area inspired him to volunteer with non-profit community organizations to preserve water quality and find solutions to zoning issues. He was instrumental in the restoration of the old Costilla County Courthouse and the implementation of the Costilla County biodiesel pilot project. Joe's fellow county commissioner, Lawrence Pacheco, said that Joe was the only true cowboy he knew, and at his last conference of commissioners, he remained focused on his mission to promote sustainability, protect watersheds, and make sure the most vulnerable people in the community had a voice and seat at the table. The magnitude of Joe's impact on the San Luis Valley is immense and it is a privilege to recognize his legacy of public service and hard work

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Gigi Dennis, of Alamosa, Colorado, who was recently named Colorado's Administrator of the Year for 2016 by the Association of County Administrators. Administrator Dennis was selected by her peers to receive this honor, and it is clear that through her dedication to public service, she has left a lasting impact on the community of Alamosa and across the state of Colorado. Throughout her career, Administrator Dennis has served in a variety of state-wide positions, including as Colorado Secretary of State, State Senator, and most recently, Alamosa County Administrator. As a State Senator, she served as Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, was a member of the Legislative Council, and Chair of the Majority Caucus. Administrator Dennis is a quality individual with a truly impressive record of public service. Mr. Speaker, although this award recognizes individual achievements, Administrator Dennis credits her team for her success. Her modesty, commitment to fiscal responsibility, and passion for improving the lives of others is truly remarkable. I wish Administrator Dennis all the best and am thankful for her continued service.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ryan Moeller, who was recently named to the 2016 First Team All-Pac 12 list. After playing football at Rifle High School, Ryan walked on to the Colorado Buffaloes football team as a special teams player. As a junior on the team this year, he earned nine total tackles on special teams and forced six fair catches on punts. Ryan also played 391 snaps on defense, recording 36 tackles, with two forced fumbles. His overall play supported the biggest turnaround by a football program in Pac-12 Conference history. After a 1-8 conference record in 2015, the Buffaloes went 8-1 in conference matchups this season. Ryan's accomplishments are the result of dedication, hard work and perseverance, qualities that will serve him well in life. I am proud that such an outstanding athlete and upstanding young man calls the Third Congressional District of Colorado home, and I congratulate Ryan and the Buffaloes on an exciting and successful season.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Paul Mundt of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Known in Southern Colorado as KRDO's Paul Richards, he passed away on December 11, 2016. Paul leaves behind five children and his wife, Julie Halling, along with a lasting legacy. Paul was the voice on five radio stations in Colorado Springs during his broadcasting career. Most recently, he was at KRDO where I had the privilege of getting to know him. After hearing of his passing, Paul's listeners immediately took to social media to share their memories of the man who played such a big part of their days and grieve with his family. Paul was known to so many around the community as a morning broadcaster, but he will be especially missed for his volunteer work outside of the recording studio. Paul never missed a moment to help others. Mr. Speaker, Paul's life ended much too early, but he truly lived it to the fullest while he was with us. It is an honor and a privilege to recognize Paul's work, service to his community, dedication to helping others and commitment to his family and friends. On behalf of Southern Colorado, and to the family and friends of Paul Mundt, I offer my condolences for the loss of their husband, father, and friend.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Civil Air Patrol Captain Guy Loughridge of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Captain Loughridge has been a volunteer for Colorado and the United States of America for over 35 years. He began his service to the state of Colorado and our country in 1981, as a member of the Routt County Search and Rescue team, where he served for 17 years. Captain Loughridge's contributions to the search and rescue community have had profound impacts. He developed radar forensic software and trained radar analysts to locate missing and downed aircraft. He decided to forgo his for-profit software business venture, and instead, volunteer his time to the Civil Air Patrol to help further develop his radar forensic software. This led him to create the National Radar Analysis Team (NRAT), which became a squadron under National Headquarters of the Civil Air Patrol. Today this program operates all across the U.S. and finds around 40 aircraft each year, saving as many as ten lives each year. Mr. Speaker, stories of Captain Loughridge's hard work and dedication to serving his community and country are countless. I proudly stand with the residents of Routt County and the United States to thank Captain Loughridge for his lifetime of service. His work has saved many lives and forever changed the Search and Rescue and Aviation communities in our great Nation.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. Jose Abeyta of Montrose, Colorado, who passed away on November 14, 2016. Jose is survived by his wife, Loretta, whom he married 40 years ago, and they have two sons, Lenny and Juan. Jose was a personal friend of mine and was a beloved member of his community. He served our country proudly during the Vietnam war from 1969 to 1971, as a fixed wing mechanic for the Army's 358th Aviation Detachment. He received an honorable discharge after serving for 2 years. Mr. Abeyta was a hero for the time he spent in the Army, but the life he lived after his service showed us what an honorable man and model citizen he truly was. Jose married Loretta 1 month after returning home from Vietnam, and they moved to Colorado Springs, where he went to school and earned a degree in sociology at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Mr. Abeyta paid his own way through school. He and Loretta then moved back to Montrose, where he began his career as a probation officer. He later ran successfully for the city council in 2006 and served as the mayor of Montrose in 2009. Mr. Speaker, it was not just his work that defined who Mr. Abeyta was. It was the devotion to serving others. As a husband, a father, a war veteran, a little league coach, and a public servant, he lived a life full of selfless service and stood as an example for all Americans to live by. He started out as the new guy in Montrose, and he ended up serving as the mayor, which speaks volumes about the impact he had on his community. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened by Jose's passing because he was an irreplaceable figure in Montrose, but I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know him. His family is in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that the community of Montrose will continue to celebrate his tremendous accomplishments in the weeks and months to come. Jose Abeyta will be missed.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jose Abeyta of Montrose, Colorado, who passed away on November 14, 2016. Jose is survived by his wife, Loretta, whom he was married to for 40 years, and their two sons, Lenny and Juan. Jose was a personal friend of mine and a beloved member of his community. He served our country proudly during the Vietnam War from 1969-1971 as a fixed wing mechanic for the Army's 358th Aviation Detachment. He received an honorable discharge after serving for two years. Mr. Abeyta is a hero because of the time he spent in the Army, but the life he lived after his service showed us what an honorable man and model citizen he truly was. Jose married Loretta one month after returning home from Vietnam, and they moved to Colorado Springs, where he went to school and earned a degree in Sociology at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Mr. Abeyta paid his own way through school, and then he and Loretta moved back to Montrose, where he began his career as a probation officer. He later ran successfully for city council in 2006. He served as the Mayor of Montrose in 2009. Mr. Speaker, it was not just his work that defined who Mr. Abeyta was, but also his devotion to serving others. As a husband, father, war veteran, little league coach, and public servant, he lived a life full of selfless service and stood as an example for all Americans to live by. He started out as the new guy in Montrose, and he ended up serving as the Mayor, which speaks volumes about the impact he had on the community. I am saddened by Mr. Abeyta's death, because he is an irreplaceable figure in Montrose, but I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know him. His family is in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope the community of Montrose will continue to celebrate his tremendous accomplishments in the weeks and months to come.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) for offering this important piece of legislation under consideration today. The bipartisan Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act replaces an arbitrary asset threshold with an indicator-based approach, which will better assist the Financial Stability Oversight Council in determining the true systemic risk of a financial institution. It is a mistake for regulators to continue regulating a $50-billion bank in the same way they regulate trillion-dollar global systemically important institutions. In fact, this view is shared among regulators and legislators. Comptroller Curry, Federal Reserve Board member Tarullo, Senator Sherrod Brown, and even former Chairman Barney Frank have all made public comments agreeing that the $50-billion SIFI threshold is not the best determination for imposing heightened prudential standards. This bill introduces a better, analysis-driven approach, requiring the council to require metrics already established by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision when it identifies Global Systemically Important Banks. The Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act will stop the current regulatory model of needlessly increasing compliance costs and forcing institutions to decrease financial services. By ensuring that the SIFI designation process takes into account indicator factors, financial institutions that were not the cause of the financial crisis will once again be able to fully serve their communities. Not only will this legislation provide relief for stable financial institutions, but it will also allow regulators to focus their resources, working with institutions that pose an actual systemic risk to the financial system. It is important to note that this legislation does not strip the FSOC of designation powers. It is concerning that some groups oppose a bill that encourages the council to use accepted measuring standards to justify a SIFI designation. Systemic importance should be determined by appropriate criteria rather than by an arbitrary line that has no justifiable purpose. To advocate for the status quo, and against this legislation, shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the financial system and systemic risk. I am happy to lend my support to this bill and encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense measure. I, again, thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer) for his leadership on this measure.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pastor James Modlish of the Huerfano Community Bible Church in Walsenburg, Colorado. Pastor Modlish, through his faithful service and commitment to God, has served individuals and families across Colorado and the country for the past fifty years. Born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, Pastor Modlish received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He went on to receive his Doctorate of Divinity from Hyles- Anderson College in Hammond, Indiana. After receiving his Ph.D., Pastor Modlish got to work establishing churches across the nation. In 2007, after establishing churches in Wisconsin, New York, Washington State, and Idaho, Pastor Modlish came back to Walsenburg in Huerfano County, Colorado, where he and his wife planned to retire. God seemed to have other plans for Pastor Modlish. Shortly after moving to Walsenburg he formed the Huerfano Community Bible Church. Today, the Huerfano Community Bible Church has grown to a congregation of 120 people. Not only has Pastor Modlish spent his life spreading the gospel in communities across the United States, he has also prioritized sharing God's word across the world. Pastor Modlish has visited 26 different countries to inspire missionaries and share the good news of Christ. He has spread his message from the jungles of the Philippines to the distant villages of Antarctica. Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of appreciation for Pastor Modlish and his dedication to his church and community, and it is my honor to acknowledge his faithful service.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Grand Junction Challenger baseball team on qualifying for the Little League World Series Championship game. The Challenger little league baseball team gives special needs children an opportunity to compete in baseball. The program started in 1989 with 12 kids who had a dream of playing baseball, and has turned into an entire league of kids with a passion for America's past time. Today there are more than 30,000 children participating in more than 900 leagues worldwide. This year the Challengers Little League World Series games will be broadcast on ESPN. They are one of eight teams from the Grand Junction area to qualify to compete, and will be the first Grand Junction Challengers team to play in this televised game. The whole community is proud of this Grand Junction team that rose to the challenge to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. There is a natural competitiveness to the game, but these kids will take it a step further when they take the field, showcasing their baseball skills and demonstrating that anything is possible in life through perseverance and determination. I look forward to watching them fulfill their dreams of playing baseball in front of a large crowd cheering for them just as fans cheered for Ruth, DiMaggio, Mays, Robinson and Williams.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for the bipartisan support on this legislation, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to Congressman Lamborn for all of his hard work on behalf of our VA and the healthcare issues for our veterans who are so in need of making sure those promises are fulfilled for them. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak in support of naming one small part of that healthcare system after a true American hero, Private First Class James Dunn. James Dunn was born in Stratton, Colorado, and found work in Pueblo, Colorado, at the steel mill after he graduated from high school. While walking down the street one day in June of 1942, he saw what we now consider a classic poster of Uncle Sam pointing straight at him saying, ``I want you.'' Fascinated, he entered the recruiting station and noticed that the line to enlist in the Marines was empty compared to the line for the Navy. That made his choice easy. When asked later why he joined, his reply was simple: ``Uncle Sam needed me.'' PFC Dunn was initially placed with a group of marines that were being reorganized as L-3-6 at Camp Elliott, California, before they were shipped to New Zealand to train and maneuver in the mountainous terrain that could be found there. Then, in early January 1943, PFC Dunn's group of Marines was sent to relieve the original force that invaded Guadalcanal. On January 20, 1943, Dunn's platoon was split into three squads and were conducting a scouting mission when they came under heavy enemy fire. The citation describing his actions that day states, in part, ``After the commanding officer and the second in command had been severely wounded, Private First Class Dunn, on his own initiative and with complete disregard of personal safety, promptly assumed command and led the men to jungle cover in the face of fierce mortar and machine-gun fire.'' Dunn was later awarded the Navy Cross for his action that day and was credited by many of the surviving members of his platoon for saving their lives. PFC Dunn went on to serve in the campaigns on Tinian and Okinawa. All told, when he was discharged, Dunn had spent all but 6 months of his 3\1/2\ years in the Marines overseas. When he returned to Pueblo, he married the love of his life Mary Knez and they had two sons, Mike and Jeff. In his civilian life, he became a Mason, enjoyed reading, and, for many years, delivered meals to shut-ins, continuing his service to others. After 54 years of marriage, James passed away in Pueblo on July 5, 2000. PFC James Dunn embodies the proud military traditions and rugged spirit of the city and the county of Pueblo, Colorado, and I am happy to support the naming of this outpatient clinic in his honor. Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to be able to tour that clinic and to be able to visit with veterans. He would be honored and pleased to see that PFC James Dunn is now going to be affixed to that facility. Pueblo is known as the home of heroes, and rightly so. PFC James Dunn certainly fits that category. I would like to thank the Pueblo VA Naming Committee for all of their efforts to support the renaming of this clinic, the support of the United Veterans Council of Colorado, and the many veterans service organizations that it counts as members. I would also like to thank all of my colleagues in the Colorado delegation for their support and the staff and leadership of the Committee on Veterans Affairs for working with my office to accomplish this important task. I would like to encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I thank the Dunn family for their heroic father and husband and for his service to our country.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, Colorado is home to over 400,000 of our Nation's veterans--men and women who have fought to protect our freedom in conflicts around the world. These men and women are often some of the most respected individuals in our communities, which makes it easy to overlook that they may be struggling to transition back into civilian life at the end of their service. A study from the Department of Veterans Affairs found that 22 veterans tragically end their lives by suicide each day. This is a shocking and heartbreaking statistic. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and a time when everyone can learn about helping to prevent veteran suicide. In our communities, we can all work to make sure that no veteran ever feels like suicide is their only option. I am honored to represent a district that works so hard to make sure our veterans are taken care of when they return home, and I am committed to advancing policies to ensure that we honor and serve the men and women who have so honorably served our country. The next time you run into a veteran in the community, take a minute to let them know that you appreciate their service. None of us may ever know how far a thank-you may go in a person's life and what a big difference that could mean.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, it has recently come to light that this administration may have sent the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism as much as $33 billion in cash and gold payments over the last 2 years. American lives have been lost because of Iran's state-sponsored terrorism; families have been ripped apart. Yet, just last month, we learned that the administration paid Iran $1.7 billion--400 million of which was in unmarked, non-U.S. currency--before they could secure the release of American military personnel held hostage in Iran. There is no way to track how Iran is using this money--or any of the rest of the billions in payments it has received. If this administration will not act to keep its citizens safe, then the House must force its hand. This starts by holding both our administration and Iran's government accountable. We are expressly prohibiting any future ransom payments to Iran, and we are requiring the Treasury to publicize any assets associated with members of Iran's government leadership. We are also requiring the Treasury to submit a report to Congress that shows how the assets were acquired and how they have been put to use. Fighting terrorism should not be a partisan issue. Depriving evil regimes of the ability to fund terrorism should not be a partisan issue. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the two pieces of legislation that we have on the House side, on the Republican column. Mr. Poliquin's bill, H.R. 5461, is a step in the right direction, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Corporal Lee Karr of the City of Pueblo Colorado Police Department for his outstanding duty and assistance to the citizens of Pueblo. During his normal duties of the day, Corporal Lee Karr went above and beyond his call of duty to assist a victim of robbery. On September 12, 2016, Corporal Karr, and a fellow officer, were called to assist a 51 year old woman who had been a victim of robbery at a bus stop in the City of Pueblo, Colorado. Karr and the other officer carried out their protocol, and then Officer Karr took his commitment of public service to another level. After comforting the victim, Karr placed her in a cool, air- conditioned police car and began assisting her with sorting out issues associated with the items that were stolen. The victim needed a new State of Colorado ID, bank and Medicaid cards--all the items that were stolen from her purse. Corporal Karr paid for these items out of his own pocket without any hesitation. Once the issue of her cards were resolved, Corporal Karr drove the victim to her destination and then, finally to her home. Mr. Speaker, Corporal Karr went above and beyond the call of public service to assist a member of his community. I commend him on a job well done, and thank him for serving as an exemplary model of public service and safety. Each and every day law enforcement officers perform these selfless acts of kindness and generosity in their communities. I am proud to honor Corporal Karr and his commitment to the City of Pueblo and its people.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Koch Farm, located in Pueblo County, Colorado. Last month, the Koch Farm was honored by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and History for its 102 years of contributions to Colorado's agriculture economy, and its deep family roots in the community. The Koch Farm was founded in 1914 at the beginning of World War I. It survived the dust bowl of the 1930s, fluctuating crop prices, and many other harsh conditions that have devastated other Colorado farms over the past decade. As a family, the Kochs were able to persevere, keeping their family's traditions and the farm alive. It's through the hard work and determination of family members like John and Conrad Wyss, the founders of the farm; Mark Koch, the current operator of the farm, and his siblings; and their father, John Koch, who passed away earlier this year, that this farm continues to thrive today. Mr. Speaker, I am immensely proud of the family tradition and determination that the Koch Family Farm embodies. I congratulate the Koch Family Farm for receiving the distinct honor of being designated as a part of the Colorado Department of Agriculture and History homestead collection. The Koch family truly deserves this honor.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the retirement of Mr. Ed Morlan of Bayfield, Colorado. Ed has worked tirelessly for decades to grow the economy of Southwest Colorado and provide opportunities for countless families in his community to succeed and prosper. Ed's life of service started before his work in local economic development when he fought for his country in three tours in Vietnam. For his actions he received a Purple Heart and a Silver Star. Returning from Vietnam, Ed set his sights on making a difference in his community, becoming a town board member of Bayfield, CO, for five terms while also working with the Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado, a nonprofit organization that supports business startups, that has given more than $19 million to advance growth and opportunity in the region which encompasses five counties and two Indian Reservations. Through his hard work over 27 years, as Executive Director of Region 9--a fledgling organization with a $30,000 deficit when Ed took over in 1989. Ed has overseen an expansion of the organization that now boasts an operating budget of close to $2 million dollars and has for decades been instrumental in the economic health of Southwest Colorado. The mining industry in Silverton, CO has faced several rounds of layoffs in recent decades. Ed's work with Region 9 has helped to offset many of these negative impacts by creating a thriving environment for small businesses. Through the years, under Ed's direction, Region 9 has assisted businesses from hardware stores, to ski areas, and even an animal hospital. Mr. Speaker, Ed Morlan is an outstanding citizen of Colorado's Third Congressional District. He embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship and commitment to community that makes this such a special place to live. Without Ed's hard work, many rural businesses would not be thriving today. Although Ed is retiring from Region 9, he plans on continuing to help the community. On behalf of the people of Colorado's Third District I want to thank Ed for his work, and service to his country and community. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th birthday of Bill Coors, a resident of Golden, Colorado. He will be celebrating this momentous birthday on August 11, 2016. Bill is the grandson of Adolph Coors, the founder of Coors Brewing Company. After graduating with a master's degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University in 1939, Bill began in the family business. Over the course of 64 years, he worked his way up in the business ranks, starting as a chemical engineer and eventually earning the title of president of the company. Bill retired from Coors in 2003 at the tender age of 87. When Bill first started at Coors, the company was a regional operation. Today, Coors beer is a recognized brand throughout the world. This serves as a testament to Bill's determination and hard work. His management of Coors Brewing Company has had a tremendous impact on the Third Congressional District of Colorado, and it continues to provide jobs in all parts of the production process, from the earliest stages in the barley fields to the delivery trucks that carry Coors products to their final destination. Mr. Speaker, Bill Coors' life has been full of incredible accomplishments. As a brewery pioneer, a successful manager for his family's company, and a lifelong Coloradoan, Bill is truly an inspiration for all. It is an honor to pay tribute to Bill's life and legacy. I wish him a very happy 100th birthday this year.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colorado State University--Pueblo for its recent designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency. CSU--Pueblo will hold this honor for the next five years. Technological advancement has made the modern American economy possible, and we all rely on technology to succeed in today's world. Equally important is ensuring we maintain the technical ability to protect the systems that support the technology we interface with every day, and providing that protection has become more and more challenging. The NSA partners with institutions of higher learning to help research and promote cyber security and defense education to help meet the ever rising demand qualified candidates in the cyber security field. The National Science Foundation gives students the opportunity to earn scholarships and grants through Centers for Academic Excellence while pursuing a greater education in cyber defense. This CAE designation is very important for the university and its students in Pueblo and the surrounding areas who wish to pursue a career within cyber security. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work that CSU--Pueblo faculty has done to achieve this prestigious designation. The students enrolled in the program will be receiving the highest quality education in the field. Congratulations to CSU--Pueblo for this accomplishment. I am proud to honor the staff and students that make the university great.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th Birthday of Bill Coors. A resident of Golden, Colorado, he will be celebrating this momentous birthday on August 11, 2016. Bill is the grandson of Adolf Coors, the founder of Coors Brewing Company, a major pioneer in the beverage distribution business. After graduating with a Master's Degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University in 1939, Bill began his career in the family business. Over the course of 64 years he worked his way up the business ranks, starting as a chemical engineer and eventually earning the title of president of the company. Bill retired from Coors in 2003, at the tender age of 87. When Bill first started with Coors, the company was a mere regional operation. Today, Coors beer is a recognized brand throughout the world. This fact serves as a testament to Bill's determination and hard work. His management of the Coors Brewing Company had a tremendous impact on the Third Congressional District of Colorado, and it continues to provide jobs in all parts of the production process, from the earliest stages in the barley fields to the delivery trucks that carry Coors products to their final destinations. Mr. Speaker, Bill Coors' life has been full of incredible accomplishments. As a brewery pioneer, a successful manager for his family's company, and as a lifelong Coloradoan, Bill is truly an inspiration for all. It is an honor to pay tribute to Bill's life and legacy, and I wish him a very happy 100th birthday this year.