Scott Tipton

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate high school students from Colorado's Third District who were recently accepted by the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists and the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. These students will represent Colorado as delegates to the Congress of Future Medical Leaders and the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders this summer at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. All of the delegates were nominated by their teachers or the Academy based on academic success and a proven desire to enter the medical or science and technology professions. Some delegates have been chosen for partial and full academic scholarships by school administrators, based on their leadership ability, achievement, and dedication. The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists accepted three high school honor students from the Third Congressional District: Trinity Castleman (Hayden, CO) Madeline Dunn (Pueblo, CO) Katelyn Jessop (Rye, CO) The National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists accepted two high school honor students from the Third Congressional District: Marlee Anderson (Durango, CO) Austin Green (Dove Creek, CO) Both Academies offer free services and programs to students that include online social networks, opportunities for students to be guided and mentored by leaders in the academic field of their interest, internships, career guidance, and communications on college acceptance. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize these fine young men and women for their hard work that led to their nominations and acceptance. I stand with the residents of Colorado's Third Congressional District in commending them on their accomplishment and I wish them luck as they prepare for the summer.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. This is really about creating jobs on American soil, creating opportunities, literally, for our families to be able to have better prospects for the future. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to be able to talk about, not only America, but the world's energy future. In my district of Colorado, we benefit from vast energy resources. In 2016, we learned that one of these resources, natural gas, has even greater potential than initially thought. The U.S. Geological Survey announced that the Mancos shale formation in Piceance Basin had the potential to be the second largest natural gas deposit in the United States. The abundance of natural gas in western Colorado puts us in the unique position to be able to create jobs here at home and also to supply American allies with reliable sources of energy well into the future. For too long, our Nation's adversaries have supplied America's allies with energy resources. We cannot let countries like Russia lead in the global energy market when the U.S. has the resources to be able to supply countries in Europe and Asia with affordable and reliable energy. Last year I called on the administration to examine a project that would allow for the U.S. to send LNG to Asian markets. The proposed Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline would transfer the natural gas from Piceance Basin in western Colorado to the Jordan Cove terminal in Coos Bay, Oregon. The Jordan Cove terminal is estimated to have the capacity to be able to transport 7.8 million metric tons of LNG annually to the Pacific Northwest and Asia. Unfortunately, under the previous administration, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission denied the application for the Jordan Cove project, citing a lack of global demand. Not long after the application was denied, Jordan Cove procured an agreement for 75 percent of the pipeline's capacity, proving that there is demand for U.S. LNG in Asia. It is my hope that FERC will soon approve the resubmitted application for the Jordan Cove project and we can bring good-paying jobs to western Colorado and send clean, affordable, and reliable energy to Asia. As the U.S. works to advance technologies that decrease the environmental footprint of energy production, it cannot be ignored that countries like China and India continue to be some of the world's top polluters. We can responsibly develop U.S. natural gas resources to be able to benefit communities across our Nation and by transporting our energy resources to countries around the globe. The United States can have a measurable impact on the economies and environmental health of communities overseas. The United States cannot sit back and let other countries lead the world into the energy future. The time for responsible development of natural gas is now and to be able to create jobs here at home.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, with the opioid and heroin crisis, the American people are currently facing one of the worst drug epidemics in our Nation's history. My State of Colorado is certainly not immune. In my travels throughout the Third Congressional District, from Pueblo to Moffat County, up and down the west slope, through the San Luis Valley, I hear of more lives lost with each passing year. Opioid addiction knows no bounds, and even the most innocent have been affected. This last year, when I toured Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado, and visited the unit that treats babies who are born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, which means that they were exposed to opiates before they were born and suffer withdrawal at the moment of birth, you see a truly heartbreaking situation. To see the most vulnerable suffering from withdrawal symptoms is something that touches the heart of every American. But it also served as a reminder that we must be more aggressive and more inventive in our efforts to be able to end this epidemic. Opioid abuse is multifaceted, and there is not just one solution that will solve this problem. That is why I have held more than 30 opioid roundtables in various communities throughout my district, to be able to hear from healthcare providers, law enforcement officers, and first responders on the front lines of the fight against addiction; to learn how the Federal Government can play a better role in supporting those efforts. In these roundtables, I have learned that opioid abuse often begins in the last place that you would expect it to: the doctor's office or a hospital emergency room. For example, a person who sprained their ankle while skiing may go to their doctor to be receiving pain medication for their injury. This medication may provide relief from the pain, but it can also provide an intense sense of euphoria. From there, there is the possibility that an addiction is born. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, of those who began using opioids in the 2000s, a whopping 75 percent reported that their first opioid was a prescription drug. Colorado has the 12th highest rate of abuse of prescription opioids across the Nation. In response to the rising number of Coloradans becoming addicted through prescribed opioids, the Colorado Hospital Association launched a pilot program in 10 hospital emergency departments across the State with the goal of reducing prescribed opioids by 15 percent. This program was so successful that it actually achieved a 36 percent reduction. I am glad that, this week, the House passed a series of more than 20 bills in a bipartisan effort to curb opioid addiction. Included in this series was the bill I was proud to help introduce called the Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department Act. This bill would allow programs similar to the one in Colorado to be tested in hospital emergency departments across the Nation, helping to ensure that people who do not need opioids are never exposed to them in the first place. Mr. Speaker, I stand here proud of the collective work accomplished in the House this week, but recognizing that this crisis will not be solved overnight, and we still have a long road ahead. It is not an issue that is going to be solved solely by the Federal Government. It is going to take a collaborative effort with our States, our local governments, and our families as well in addressing this problem. We must continue to work together to end the stigma surrounding opioid abuse and find innovative solutions that will end this crisis for good.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Southern Colorado Soap Box Derby and the individuals--participants, parents and organizers--who have made it an enriching community event to look forward to. On July 8, 1937, boys ages 9-12 entered cars they designed out of soap boxes, wood and metal for the very first Southern Colorado Soap Box Derby, which took place on West Street in Pueblo, Colorado. At the end of this event, the first place winner was sent to compete in the national championship in Akron, Ohio. One year later in 1938, the races stopped due to World War II. They began again almost 20 years later in 1962, this time taking place on Constitution Hill with 62 racers ages 9-15. With the help of 28 orphans from Sacred Heart Home and Youth Center and several convicts of the Colorado State Penitentiary, all of the derby cars were successfully built by race time. The revived competition led to some new additions, one being the implementation of a Derby Queen who was chosen from the list of names submitted by the racers. The very first Derby Queen was Sharon Galbraith of Pueblo. As the race evolved, by 1966 standard wheels and steering assemblies were required to give equal opportunity to all racers. Joplin Hill on Pueblo's east side was determined to be the best hill for gravity and the competition moved once again. Boys from communities including Pueblo, Denver, Boulder, Greeley and Loveland traveled to participate in the derby competition. Attendance steadily increased, ranging from a few hundred to 5,000 spectators. Unfortunately, three years later, the derby was once more on the brink of shutting down due to a lack of funding. Only one more race was scheduled to be held. This lack of funding threatened derby winner Steve Espinosa's chances of going to the national competition in Ohio. However, thanks to the generosity of the Pueblo Star Journal and radio station KKAM's manager Dwight Shaw, enough funds were donated to send Steve to Ohio. In 2006 after a long 37 years, the Southern Colorado Soap Box Derby started up again and has been held every year since. In that time, many positive changes have been instituted to be more inclusive, fair and safe: it's now open to both girls and boys ages 7-21; all derby cars have been built from a kit with strict adherence to all nuts and bolts; and contestants must qualify for one of three divisions to race. Since 2006, the highlight of each race has been Officer Randy Belisle of the Colorado State Patrol using his radar gun to clock the speed of each racer as he or she comes down the hill. With speeds ranging from 28 to 31 mph, Officer Belisle then issues each racer a ``ticket'' for speeding. Mr. Speaker, the Southern Colorado Soap Box Derby is a fun and important part of the culture and history of Pueblo, Colorado. Throughout the years, this great event has enhanced community engagement and served as a way to teach youth the skills of workmanship and perseverance to complete the task at hand. I look forward to watching the races and I wish all the contestants good luck.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act because, as a former small-business owner, I know the immense challenges a complex Tax Code can present to business owners, workers, and families alike. When H.R. 1 was signed into law, it opened the door to a new era of prosperity for Colorado and for our country, and the evidence is all around us: We have already seen over 1 million jobs created; Hundreds of companies have contributed $4 billion in bonuses, impacting over 4 million workers; The unemployment rate is at the lowest level that we have seen in a half a century; and Small business optimism has hit an all-time high. In Alamosa, Colorado, a small town in my district, tax reform has helped First Southwest Bank stay in town and provide financial services products to its community, a key driver of economic growth and success in smaller towns around the country. As CEO Kent Curtis said after the passage of tax reform: ``We're excited to take advantage of the tax reform and give the positive impact it has on First Southwest Bank right back to our team members and the rural Colorado community. By being able to provide a higher living wages to our starting employees and invest in our team, we can be a catalyst for economic growth and reaffirm our commitment to a better quality of life in all of the rural Colorado communities our branches serve.'' First Southwest Bank has raised its starting wage to $14 an hour plus full benefits, a major success for a small community in southwest Colorado. It is exactly businesses like this that are committed to their communities and to their neighbors that this historic tax reform package was intended to help. Increased wages, along with changes to the tax bracket and standard deduction, mean Coloradans across the Third District have higher earning potential and can keep more of their hard-earned money, which spells economic growth. These improvements can help families take a vacation to one of our beloved national parks, put a down payment on a new car or a home, or be able to pay medical expenses. Madam Speaker, the effects of this monumental tax reform effort are felt right here at home, and I am proud of the Coloradans who are working so hard to be able to improve their lives because of the opportunity this legislation has presented. If I may, I would like to give you one personal story. I was in my hometown, and I had the opportunity to be able to go to a local restaurant. The young lady who was a server has two children. She went out of her way to come up and tell me that the extra $50 to $60 per week that she is getting in her paycheck is making a real difference in her family's life. I told her there is better news actually coming, because when she gets ready to file those taxes this coming April 15, she is going to find that her personal exemption has doubled and that for her children, that child tax credit that she has counted on has doubled as well, putting more resources back into the pockets of the people who earn that money. As my colleague from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert) pointed out, when we put those resources back to work, back to work in that American economy, we find that it yields what many of our colleagues on the left would like to see more of: tax revenues coming into the government to be able to provide some of the essential services that we all know that we need. But we need to be the country that is creating that fertile soil to be able to grow businesses, to be able to create opportunity for the future, and to be able to deliver on that promise for the American Dream for all of our children. This is a program and a policy that works on behalf of the American people.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, for too long, there has been a culture of disregard for our community financial institutions out of Washington, D.C. Regulations that were intended to bring discipline to the Nation's largest institutions have instead suffocated Main Street and prevented communities across the country from finding their footing on the path to prosperity. The passage of this historic, bipartisan, progrowth package today will mark a change in the regulatory rhetoric out of Washington. Communities will be heard instead of ignored. Families will find open doors where previously they were shut out. And small businesses will be empowered to grow rather than languish in regulatory uncertainty. One provision of this legislation that I authored, the MOBILE Act, embodies exactly the kind of commonsense help for families that today's vote will provide. The MOBILE Act will allow consumers across the country to open bank accounts on their mobile devices using a driver's license or personal ID, meaning access to financial services will start in your pocket and be more convenient than ever. Approximately three-quarters of the 20 percent of the U.S. population that is underbanked has access to a smartphone. This provision will help these Americans get access to the critical banking services that will set them on the path to financial success. Mr. Speaker, this historic package is about unraveling red tape that stifles the financial success of all Americans, and I urge its passage here today.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I think that we have actually found some common ground when our colleague is saying, let's use science. Effectively, that is what we are talking about with this amendment, to be able to have analysis, to be able to have project planning. Let me give you a real-life example in southwestern Colorado: the West Fork Complex fire, which erupted because we had trees growing not at the elevation that they should, overgrowth in our forest that resulted in a massive fire. I would suggest that if you care about endangered species, if you care about protecting our waterways, if you care about having an abundant resource to be able to develop to be able to support our schools through the rural school programs as well, this is an opportunity to be able to create those healthy forests and to be able to move forward with good commonsense planning that is going to be provided by this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I encourage the passage of the amendment and applaud Mr. Westerman's efforts on this.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, West Fork is in a remote part of Dolores County, Colorado, surrounded by the San Juan National Forest. Emergency and fire response is a challenge in this part of the county because the closest fire station is currently 26 miles away. The amendment I have offered would authorize the Forest Service to convey approximately 3.6 acres of National Forest System land to Dolores County for the strict purpose of building and operating a fire station in the West Fork area. In addition to creating emergency and fire response challenges, the lack of a dedicated fire station has created insurance challenges for homeowners in West Fork. In an area surrounded by the national forestland, it is critical to have fire insurance for your home and other structures on your property. With no fire station in reasonable proximity to the area, it is nearly impossible for homeowners to obtain fire insurance in West Fork. The text of this amendment is identical to the West Fork Fire Station Act, which passed the House by a voice vote last month. I encourage my colleagues to once again support this measure as an amendment to H.R. 2. I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the Tri-County Health Network of Telluride, Colorado and Families Plus of Delta, Colorado for providing exceptional health care to those living in the Third District's rural communities. As a result of their hard work, the Health Resources and Services Administration recently named Tri-County Health Network as a Champion of Information Dissemination and Families Plus as a Champion of Innovation in Health Care Delivery. Both awardees were recognized for going above and beyond in providing their communities with access to excellent health care as well as developing innovative strategies and implementing evidence-based practice models that help to improve the quality of health care. They were also noticed for their exceptional job in expanding their work outside their individual organizations through mentoring, coaching, and partnerships. One of the greatest challenges families in rural Colorado face is a lack of access to health care providers and services. Both Tri-County Health Network and Families Plus have gone above and beyond to fill this void and I am happy to see Tri-County Health Network and Families Plus recognized for their efforts. Mr. Speaker, Tri-County Health Network and Families Plus exemplary performance in the field of healthcare is incredibly valuable to the communities in our state. We are thankful for their continued efforts to improve the lives of those living in the Third Congressional District and I stand with all Coloradans in thanking them for their work and service.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Pueblo South High School Colts for winning the Colorado High School State Football Championship. The Colts' thrilling 25 to 15 victory over the Pine Creek High School Eagles, the defending state champion, is the first time in the history of the program that the Pueblo South High School football team won a state championship title. Further cementing Pueblo as the state's High School Football powerhouse, 2017 marked the fourth year in a row that a team from Pueblo claimed a state championship. East High School in Pueblo won the previous three Class 3A state championships and Pueblo Centennial High School won 25 years prior. This was also the first 4A state title for Pueblo since Pueblo West won in 2007. The city has a long history of athletic excellence and I am proud to see the Colts join the ranks of their fellow competitors. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to offer my sincere congratulations to the Pueblo South High School football team for their great accomplishment. For many of the teams' players, this win is the achievement of a goal they have worked hard towards for years. I commend their coaches and each member of the team for their sportsmanship and competitive spirit. I look forward to watching them succeed as they continue their bright academic and athletic careers.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Michelle Thomas, a teacher with the Independence Academy Charter School in Grand Junction, Colorado, for her recent selection as a Teacher Liaison Officer for the Space Foundation. The Space Foundation chose Michelle for her active promotion of space and science education in her school and community. Michelle was chosen for this position following a rigorous selection process conducted by a panel of space industry experts. She was one of 31 people across the globe who were nominated for this position, and she will join 250 other active Teacher Liaisons. As a Teacher Liaison Officer she will receive Space Foundation training and resources, take part in specialized NASA workshops, and take on more educational responsibility. This opportunity will allow Michelle to expand her institutional space-based knowledge, further implement space education into her classroom, and in turn elevate her student's education. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Michelle for her accomplishment. Her talent, hard work, and commitment, has led to her selection as a Teacher Liaison Officer and I have no doubt she will take what she learns from the Space Foundation and give back to her students and the Grand Junction community. I stand with the people of the Colorado's Third Congressional District in commending her for her achievement.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McClintock and also Representative Hanabusa for their support on this important piece of legislation, which ultimately creates a win not only for the local community property rights, but also for our forest system, as well, in the event of a catastrophic wildfire breaking out. West Fork is in a remote part of Dolores County, Colorado, surrounded by the San Juan National Forest. Emergency and fire response is a challenge in this part of the county because the closest fire station is currently 26 miles away. The West Fork Fire Station Act conveys approximately 3.6 acres of National Forest System land to Dolores County for the strict purpose of building and operating a fire station in the West Fork area. In addition to creating emergency and fire response challenges, the lack of a dedicated fire station has created insurance challenges for homeowners in West Fork. In an area surrounded by national forest land, it is critical to have fire insurance for your home and other structures on your property. With no fire station in reasonable proximity to the area, it is near impossible for homeowners to obtain fire insurance in West Fork. My bill would help change that. The West Fork fire station will be operated by a volunteer fire department, men and women who dedicate their time, talent, and often put the safety of their community and neighbors ahead of their own. I greatly appreciate their service to the county. I also commend Dolores County for working along with local property owners and the surrounding fire districts to obtain necessary firefighting equipment for the volunteers who would serve the West Fork fire station. Dolores County, Colorado, U.S. Senators Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet, along with the U.S. Forest Service all support the West Fork Fire Station Act. The bill passed out of the Natural Resources Committee with a unanimous vote. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues in the House to support this bill and the community of West Fork today.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, the regulatory relief bill that passed the Senate just a few short weeks ago was crafted to get past the 60-vote cloture threshold. Our Senate colleagues are now asking the House to pass that deal without amendment because they don't have an interest in voting on the measure again. That is not the legislative process envisioned by the Framers of the Constitution and demonstrates a disregard for the policy work of the people's House. The House Financial Services Committee has worked tirelessly to pass bipartisan bills that will provide necessary regulatory relief to Main Street America. Chairman Hensarling has identified 15 commonsense bills that passed out of the Financial Services Committee with broad bipartisan support and have the support of the ranking member. Yet some in the Senate continue to insist that any amendment to legislation is inadmissible. While I support the goal of providing much-needed relief to our community banks and credit unions, I believe we should take a more thoughtful and inclusive approach that considers the will of the people as represented in this body. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the leadership in the House, as well as Chairman Hensarling, for fighting for the bipartisan policy initiatives of the Members of this Chamber in the regulatory relief process.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Florida (Mr. Ross) for introducing this important measure being considered today. Mr. Speaker, the Dodd-Frank Act introduced into our Nation's capital a new culture of regulatory burden where a select few Washington bureaucrats dictate how our Nation's financial institutions should run themselves. While I support the necessary regulations from our Nation's fiduciary rule makers that upholds the goals of safety, soundness, and fair play, far too often our regulators have overstepped their boundaries and entered into dangerous territory of overregulation. Section 113 of the Dodd-Frank Act gave the Financial Stability Oversight Council immense deliberate power to declare nonbank financial companies as systemically important to the financial stability of the United States. Once that determination is made, these nonbank financial institutions become subject to extraordinarily stringent prudential supervision and regulation by the Federal Reserve. This is a power that should not be taken lightly. FSOC's systemically important designation carries with it a significant regulatory burden, a new public perception, and a new regulator. Mr. Ross' legislation would require the FSOC, when deliberating on whether or not to designate a nonbank as systemically important, to consider the appropriateness of imposing new burdens on the institution, as opposed to pursuing other forms of regulation to mitigate identified risk to the financial stability of the United States. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ross' legislation would help end the culture of overregulation in Washington and alleviate the intense burden that has been imposed on many institutions that have unsparingly received this designation. This is not to say that FSOC's power to designate institutions as systemically important should not be used, but rather that FSOC should exercise its authority judiciously and in its intended manner. Mr. Ross' bill ensures that the FSOC's designations going forward will be prudent, shrewd, and most important, necessary. The good news out of Washington is that the culture of overregulation is changing. A new era has been ushered in that thinks twice before regulating, thoughtfully revisits the necessity and effectiveness in past regulations, and considers the burden of future regulations. Much of this has to do with the changes in leadership at the regulatory agencies and the good work being pursued there. But changes in who creates and enforces the regulations aren't enough. In order for our small towns to be able to prosper, our small businesses to grow, and our families to succeed, we must continue to pursue legislative changes to regulations that sustain this new era of regulatory cautiousness and predictability. By pursuing legislative fixes to regulatory problems, we can provide the certainty required by our financial sector, both big and small, to once again provide a bright future for the American economy and for American families. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ross' legislation being considered on the floor helps to cement that certainty, and I encourage my colleagues to support the measure here today.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Eady James of Eagle, Colorado and Heather Schadt of Durango, Colorado for earning Critical Language Scholarships from the U.S. Department of State, which have allowed them to study abroad in China. The Critical Language Scholarship Program is a highly competitive and intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program that is administered through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. In an increasingly competitive world, this program serves an important purpose by helping American student's master languages that are deemed critical to national security and economic prosperity. Throughout their time overseas, Eady and Heather were able to increase their language fluency, expand their cultural competency, and share their American values with their Chinese hosts. Both of them have returned to the United States, Eady to Western Kentucky University and Heather to Lewis & Clark College, after studying Advanced Chinese in two different regions of China. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize these accomplished students for their hard work and academic success. I stand with the residents of Colorado's Third Congressional District in congratulating Eady and Heather on their achievement, and I wish them luck in their future endeavors.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Pueblo City- County Library District in Pueblo, Colorado and the Mancos Public Library in Mancos, Colorado. Both libraries were nominated among 29 finalists for the 2018 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. In addition to being a finalist, Pueblo City-County Library District was awarded one of the 10 medals that are presented annually. The medal is the highest national honor for museums and libraries. They are recognized for their outstanding contributions in the areas of education, civic life engagement, advanced workforce development, and enrichment of cultural and lifelong learning opportunities. Due to the strong leadership of Jon Walker, the Executive Director of the Pueblo City-County Library District and Lee Halberg, the Executive Director of the Mancos Public Library, both libraries make a variety of valuable resources and programs available to the communities they serve, which has helped to enrich the lives of many living in their respective communities. Libraries and museums have historically served as vital resources within our nation's communities by bolstering the economy, aiding our schools, and preserving our cultural heritage for future generations. I am proud to see the libraries in Pueblo and Mancos celebrated on a national platform. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Colorado's Third Congressional District it is my privilege to honor the Pueblo City-County Library District and the Mancos Public Library for their work as leading library institutions in our state. I have visited the libraries many times and the staff there are true professionals who deserve this recognition. We are thankful for their continued efforts to improve the lives of those living in the Third Congressional District and I stand with all Colorado in thanking them for their work.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lt. Col. Mark Young for his 35 years of volunteerism in Colorado. His service to others began during the blizzard of 1982 where he spent all night in his truck with his CB radio answering calls to help stranded motorists. On top of his volunteer work, Lt. Col. Young spent 29 years as a volunteer paramedic in Costilla County, using his knowledge as a paramedic to help thousands of his fellow citizens. In addition, he assisted his community in the creation of a volunteer ambulance service. In 1996, Lt. Col. Young continued his service and joined the Montrose County Sheriff Posse as a volunteer search and rescue firefighter. Over the next 20 years he provided hundreds of hours of free helicopter service, and went on numerous rescue missions, providing vital helicopter support on each of those rescues. Just over a year ago, Lt. Col. Young and his team were able to rescue a pilot from Colorado Springs that got wrecked in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area in Garfield County Colorado. Mr. Speaker, whether it was spending all night on Christmas Eve helping motorists during a blizzard, or flying a helicopter for Search and Rescue missions, Lt. Col. Young has always been eager to serve his fellow Americans. It is my pleasure to recognize Lt. Col. Young for all his generosity. On behalf of the Third District of Colorado I would like to thank Lt. Col. Young for his generous service to his community.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity today to be able to advance an important piece of bipartisan legislation. The Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act seeks to bring fairness to the Federal financial regulators' examination appeals process by instituting a uniform framework free from examination retaliation. Our community banks and credit unions currently have no independent recourse in the appeals process of examination decisions. These institutions often lack the experience, capacity, and resources needed to effectively resolve challenges to Federal financial regulators' examination determinations as each regulator has its own different rules and standards for the appeals process. Under the current examination appeals framework, appeals of material supervisory determinations, which are decisions of significant consequence that can have serious impact on the financial institution's future, run through the agency that handed down the decision in the first place. Mr. Speaker, that is like asking an arresting police officer to also be the judge and the jury when a case goes to trial. Put simply, this legislation will move away from that framework and establish an independent office of review to address appeals of serious consequence, and harmonize and consolidate the appeals process across the various Federal regulators so that the review process is fair and predictable. One banker in Colorado put it to me this way: ``The Dodd-Frank Act has added complexity and uncertainty to the entire exam process and to the bank's ability to serve its customers confidently and in full compliance of regulations.'' He continues: ``For instance, overlap between the OCC and CFPB is an ongoing issue. The OCC lost regulatory oversight with the Dodd-Frank Act and the foundation of the CFPB, especially in the fair lending world. When the CFPB made it clear they were not going to examine the banks over $10 billion on fair lending the way that the OCC had historically done it, the OCC started expanding the way that they assessed a bank's Compliance Management Program to add questions about fair lending, including transaction sampling and testing. It creates a very burdensome environment as well as duplication and the risk of double jeopardy.'' Mr. Speaker, an examination environment that runs the risk of duplication and double jeopardy between agencies isn't tenable and puts our community institutions at risk of being examined into extinction. This environment is further complicated by the reality that, currently, institutions that want to appeal double jeopardy examination results would have to appeal through two regulators who likely aren't communicating with one another about the other's exam determinations. The Examination Fairness bill before the House today would solve this problem by establishing an Office of Independent Examination Review, which would function as a consolidated, sober judge of the examination appeals process. This newly created office under the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council would provide a community bank or credit union an avenue for independent recourse to appeal a material supervisory determination where fairness, transparency, and timeliness are paramount. Because this new review process only applies to material supervisory determinations, the new process is limited in scope and reserved only for the most serious appeals. This legislation is also careful not to constrain the power of the regulators to pursue enforcement actions or to prevent them from issuing a further material supervisory determination. In fact, enforcement actions resulting from a determination would continue to be enforced under this new appeals process until the independent office either agrees with the finding of the regulator or overturns a determination of the regulator. Mr. Speaker, by creating consistency; instituting timeline expectations of examinations and appeals; increasing transparency; and adding independent, sober review of appeals to the rights of the financial institutions, H.R. 4545 will go a long way to usher in a new environment of fairness in the examination appeals process for small banks and credit unions. Giving these institutions independent recourse in the appeals process will create greater certainty that they won't have to reduce their financial service product offerings because of an unfair or untimely review. Mr. Speaker, that translates to greater assurances for communities across the country that their small banks and credit unions will be able to provide a mortgage for their home, a loan for their car, and capital for their small businesses to be able to grow. This measure passed out of the Financial Services Committee with strong bipartisan support, with a majority of our Democrat colleagues joining with us to be able to support exam fairness. I would like to thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), for her support of this measure's consideration here today.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Buck) for the time, and I appreciate consideration of the rule here today. Mr. Speaker, both of the bills being considered under this rule amount to real relief for our Nation's community banks and credit unions. H.R. 1116, the TAILOR Act, which passed out of committee with bipartisan support, will direct Federal financial regulators to tailor their regulations to the risk profile and business model of our institutions, meaning that regulation intended for the largest financial institutions will no longer burden the smallest of our institutions. Our community banks and credit unions have long suffered the consequences and costs of complying with extensive heavyhanded and onerous regulations. They were created after the 2008 financial crisis. While many of these regulations are necessary for financial institutions of all sizes, many are not. Complying with manifold regulations has significantly hampered the ability of our community institutions to offer credit to small businesses, help families get a mortgage, and extend loans to retirees and the recently employed. As one community banker wrote to me: ``We have seen time and again the impact of this regulatory environment consume many hours and resources of our compliance, credit, and audit teams despite the relatively simple business model we follow.'' By requiring financial regulators to consider the cost of compliance on smaller institutions as well as whether or not a regulation is necessary for an institution based on the size and risk profile of that institution, the TAILOR Act will go a long way to alleviate the burden of heavy regulation on our community banks. In turn, this will lead to renewed economic growth for our local communities that rely heavily on the presence of community banks and credit unions in their own hometowns. The other bill being considered under this rule, H.R. 4545, which also came out of committee with bipartisan support, the Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act, will provide certainty for community banks and credit unions that they will have independent recourse should a bank examination result in a determination that they disagree with. If a bank or a credit union receives an examination decision that it finds unfavorable, the only recourse it has under the current structure is to appeal that decision directly to the same regulator that arrived at that decision in the first place. The Exam Fairness bill included in this rule will change that reality by creating a new Office of Independent Examination Review that will serve as an independent appeals office, providing banks and credit unions with uniform and predictable avenues to appeal examination determinations of significant consequence. At this independent office, sober review of the agency's determination, transparency, and timeliness will be paramount, meaning that financial institutions will no longer have to wade through long delays in their appeals process and will no longer have to fear retaliation from a financial regulator because they appealed the examination results. Mr. Speaker, this amounts to new assurances to community banks and credit unions that they will have fair recourse in the examination process should they disagree with an examiner's findings. I would like to thank the Speaker for advancing this rule. I urge my colleagues to support the rule so that our community banks and credit unions can realize real relief.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Hensarling for his leadership on this issue, as well, and for considering this bipartisan legislation today. Mr. Speaker, the ever-growing burden and complexity of financial regulations is creating an environment of difficult choices for community banks and credit unions. Often, they must choose to incur the costs of complying with a regulation or cease to offer the financial product the regulation modifies. Whatever choice these community institutions make, it is the local consumer and the local economy that loses. Burdensome regulations drive up the costs of financial products and limit choices for consumers, which decreases a community's access to financial products and services that help their families to be able to buy their first home, to help small businesses grow. In districts like mine in Colorado, that amounts to real economic impact, especially in towns where the community bank or credit union on the corner is the only true access to credit that the community has. When smaller institutions are unable to absorb the costs of additional compliance, it is the small towns across America that are disproportionately affected. As one banker from Colorado recently wrote me: We have seen time and again the impact of this regulatory environment consume many hours and resources of our compliance, credit, and audit teams despite the relatively simple business model that we follow. Mr. Speaker, that is why the bipartisan TAILOR Act's consideration on the floor today is so important. The TAILOR Act directs the Federal financial regulators to take into account the risk profile and business model of institutions as they develop new regulations, making them more targeted, more deliberate. The TAILOR Act also instructs regulators to weigh the impact that new regulatory burdens will have on smaller institutions, meaning real relief from compliance burdens for banks and credit unions. To put the impact of regulations into perspective, the Dodd-Frank Act alone created 400 new rules and came with 30,000 pages of explanation. In my travels across Colorado, I have heard far too often that community institutions have been forced to stop making home loans or loans to small businesses because they can't afford to hire more employees to manage the added compliance paperwork. The TAILOR Act would make sure that the compliance burdens are considered when new regulations are made so that community financial institutions won't have to choose between the needs of their communities and complying with regulations out of Washington, D.C. Community banks and credit unions need to be able to prioritize their customers and the needs of their communities instead of prioritizing compliance with heavy-handed regulations. One community banker from Colorado brought this into focus when he wrote me saying: Providing a real-time view of risk and continual review of such a risk applicable to each financial institution allows regulators to direct their attention to developing issues that could have the most damaging effect. With the number of financial institutions declining to historically low levels, the redeployment of focus based on complexity makes sense. Mr. Speaker, in Colorado, mortgages haven't been made, loans to expand small businesses have been denied, retirees and recently employed workers have been turned away, and relationships between community bankers and their neighbors have been discarded. The one- size-fits-all approach to regulating the financial services industry has resulted in decreased access to much-needed credit. America is now in a position to be able to address this. The trickle- down effect of regulation intended to respond to the culpable actions of the big banks after the 2008 financial crisis is harming Main Street and the ability of everyday Americans to be able to realize their financial goals. Directing the regulators to refocus their regulations will help Americans start achieving their goals once again. Once more, the regulators themselves have acknowledged the need for tailored regulations. Both Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Powell have acknowledged the significant need for a return to common sense in the financial regulatory landscape. Mr. Speaker, the TAILOR Act, which passed out of the Financial Services Committee with broad bipartisan support, does just that. Mr. Speaker, I would again like to thank Chairman Hensarling for considering this measure here today.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for this time to be able to speak to an important piece of legislation. In my home State of Colorado, we have a tale of two economies. The urban areas have realized economic recovery since 2008, while the more rural communities have been slower to find sustained economic growth. Essential to these areas and their ability to be able to recover, a topic that I speak frequently on, is access to credit. As Treasury's report to the President in June of 2017 notes: Regulations on capital, liquidity, and leverage requirements, as well as regulatory parameters that guide loan underwriting, have undermined the ability of financial institutions to deliver attractively priced credit in sufficient quantity to meet the needs of the economy. In other words, our community financial institutions have lost access to the tools that they need to be able to help their communities recover as they have struggled to comply with regulations intended for the largest institutions. Mr. Speaker, it is our local communities, our small businesses, our first-time home buyers, and our working families who suffer the consequences from these regulations. Mr. Speaker, let me give you one example of what unbridled regulation does and how it impacts families trying to be able to live that American Dream. I have an example of a credit union in my home State of Colorado that had to stop offering home equity lines of credit to its members because the cost of keeping the forms in compliance with Federal regulation exceeded the income generated by the program. In other words, regulation priced this credit union out of a critical market and at a time when the rural environment the credit union serves needed access to credit most. Fortunately, Mr. Loudermilk's legislation being considered here today will take important steps to require regulators to consider the institution's size and risk profile as they evaluate the necessity and effectiveness of regulatory rulemaking under the self-review mandated to them by the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act. Importantly, Mr. Loudermilk's legislation will also expand the EGRPRA process to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the National Credit Union Administration, encouraging the tailoring of regulations across the regulatory spectrum. This legislation takes steps to encourage regulators to allow small institutions adequate leeway to exercise reasonably constructed consumer lending regimes to make sure consumers have the broadest array of choices and that institutions can appropriately navigate the compliance landscape. Mr. Speaker, by requiring regulators to more frequently review and tailor regulations, this bill will help put Main Street back on the path to prosperity and help to end the tale of two economies in Colorado and throughout the Nation. Making these adjustments will help community banks and credit unions once again be able to meet the needs of their neighbors and encourage our businesses to be able to grow. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting being able to listen to this debate. The common ground is we want to be able to have consumers have access to capital, and we also want responsible lending. We now need to reset this debate to the reality that is being faced on the ground. In an already challenging loan environment for many banks nationwide, the Madden v. Midland decision has further limited the ability of national banks to be able to issue credit. Because of the court's decision not to apply the valid-when-made doctrine to its decision, which would have preserved lawful interest rates originated by a bank for nonbanks and third parties, access to credit and risk mitigation tools have been placed into jeopardy. The legal uncertainty resulting from the Madden decision has led to a reduction in responsible and affordable lending, and has limited consumers' access to better and cheaper choices. Fortunately, the vice chairman's legislation, the Protecting Consumers' Access to Credit Act of 2017, would reassert the valid-when- made principle, to ensure that a loan that is valid at its inception cannot become invalid or unenforceable upon a subsequent transfer to another person or party. This legislation promotes healthy financial markets and would help improve the often-limiting loan environment facing banks nationwide. This measure is important for our families and small businesses, for whom access to credit is critical to success. Further, this legislation ensures that innovative marketplace lending remains intact while simultaneously providing safe consumer protections. I would like to thank Mr. McHenry for supporting and developing this bipartisan legislation to be able to help preserve access to credit for those who need it most, and I encourage my colleagues to support the measure here today.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the athletes from Colorado's Third Congressional District who are competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The dedication, passion, and spirit of these 21 men and women prove that they are some of the best our nation has to offer, and they serve as a model for young adults all around the world. I am proud to recognize these athletes for their impressive achievement: Competing in Alpine Skiing: David Chodounsky, Wiley Maple, Alice McKennis, and Mikaela Shiffrin; Competing in Bobsled: Nathan Weber; Competing in Cross-Country Skiing: Simi Hamilton and Noah Hoffman; Competing in Freestyle Skiing: Aaron Blunck, Alex Ferreira, Gus Kenworthy, Keaton McCargo, and Torin Yater-Wallace; Competing in Nordic Combined: Ben Berend, Bryan Fletcher, Taylor Fletcher, and Jasper Good; And competing in Snowboarding: Mick Dierdorff, Arielle Gold, Hagen Kearney, Jake Pates, and Meghan Tierney. While I am here to acknowledge the athletes that hail from my home district, I would like to thank every member of Team USA for their continued contribution to their sports and communities. Mr. Speaker, it is truly an honor to recognize each of these accomplished athletes. Their talent, hard work, and commitment has allowed them to compete on an international platform and I have no doubt they will make our nation proud. I want to thank them for representing the United States and Colorado's Third Congressional District and I wish them luck as they prepare for their upcoming competitions.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the capture of the USS Pueblo by North Korea so I rise today in honor of her crew members and their unwavering courage. The USS Pueblo is an intelligence ship named after the city of Pueblo, located in Colorado's Third Congressional District. On January 23, 1968 she was attacked and captured by North Korean forces while sailing in international waters during the Cold War. The unlawful seizure of the USS Pueblo resulted in the imprisonment and torture of 82 of her crew members. Tragically, one crew member died during the seizure of the ship. For 11 months, the crew was subjected to brutal torture at the hands of their North Korean captors. In recent years, survivors have recounted being forced to walk around the floor on their knees, holding chairs over their heads for long periods of time, being slapped, punched and hit with gun butts, and having firearms held to their heads with threats of death if they did not reveal classified information. While the United States government was eventually able to negotiate the freedom of the crew members, unfortunately, the USS Pueblo was never released by North Korea and remains in their possession. It sits in the Potong River in Pyongyang where it serves as propaganda for the North Korean government. The state of Colorado, Pueblo County, and Pueblo have all passed resolutions and proclamations requesting the return of the ship, but to no avail. I too would like to see our ship returned home. In 1989, the United States government finally recognized the crew members' sacrifice and granted them Prisoner of War Medals. However, the public didn't truly become aware of the gruesome torture that the crew endured until 2012, when the National Security Agency released a classified report detailing the abuse and the loss of intelligence documents. Mr. Speaker, I am extremely thankful for the service of the crew members of the USS Pueblo. In the face of great adversity they survived brutal conditions, starvation, and torture, both physical and psychological. On behalf of Colorado's Third Congressional District I would like to express my deepest gratitude for their bravery. It is my great privilege to honor them and remember their sacrifice here today.