Robert Wittman

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize those men and women who continue to serve this great Nation with honor--men such as Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Christopher Ragsdale, United States Navy. For the past year, LCDR Ragsdale served on my staff as a Congressional Defense Fellow. A 2007 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, LCDR Ragsdale is a proud Surface Warfare Officer who served in MCM Crew BULWARK and onboard USS COMSTOCK (LSD-45) and USS BENFOLD (DDG-65). During his assignment in my office, LCDR Ragsdale provided senior-level input for defense, veterans, foreign affairs and intelligence matters. Additionally, he executed his work as a liaison to the constituents of Virginia's First Congressional District with distinction. Furthermore, LCDR Ragsdale provided exceptional support to me as a staff liaison to the House Armed Services Committee in my role as the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee Ranking Member. LCDR Ragsdale dutifully provided me with guidance on what the Navy's path forward should be in critical areas such as training, readiness, and manning. His recent experience in the surface community was invaluable to my work in Congress. As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus and the Co- Chair of the Navy-Marine Corps Caucus, I relied on LCDR Ragsdale to organize quarterly events with government, military, and private sector leaders. These events allowed key decisionmakers to work together for the advancement of our future Naval Officers as well as the construction and repair of the ships on which they will serve. LCDR Ragsdale also directly contributed to my goal of providing excellent constituent service to the people of the First District. He was responsible for bringing numerous constituent inquiries to a successful conclusion, and he leveraged his personal and operational experience in the Navy to respond to the most challenging inquiries. In addition to his efforts locally, LCDR Ragsdale took on projects with regional, state, and national implications, demonstrating his ability to view a challenge from many angles and develop innovative solutions. LCDR Ragsdale's work ethic, duty to mission, and commitment to servant leadership is without equal. I believe that his personal drive to achieve excellence in his work has and will set a very high standard for his peers. I would also like to thank LCDR Ragsdale for the service and sacrifice he has made, and continues to make, both for our Nation and our great Navy. His impeccable integrity, boundless work ethic, and loyal devotion to duty earned him the respect and admiration of my staff and the First District of Virginia. I have no doubt that LCDR Ragsdale will continue to serve the Navy honorably and with distinction. I wish Chris and his wife Andrea the best of luck as they continue their journey together as a Navy family. It was an honor and a pleasure having Chris serve on my staff. We all can sleep soundly at night knowing that members of our all-volunteer force like Chris stand ready to defend our country and take the fight to our enemies; far away from their families and the comforts of the United States of America. I thank LCDR Christopher Ragsdale for doing a fantastic job. Best of luck to him and may God bless him, his family, and all the Sailors he is charged with leading.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Thornberry for yielding. Madam Speaker, this is not a good conference report. This is a great bipartisan conference report. We have made significant strides in a wide range of areas that improve our national security posture, from installing a respectable $743 billion top line to supporting our Nation's highest acquisition priorities to even including related efforts on the widow's tax and family housing reform. This has become an impressive bill. I must admit, though, that I was concerned about our ability to complete the work in this conference report. When we initially debated this bill on the House floor, I voted in opposition to the bill over top-line funding issues and various riders that were included. But in conference, we debated vigorously. In the end, I am pleased that we, once again, tacked to the middle and moved to garner bipartisan support for our servicemembers and their families. Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry should be proud of this effort. Our seapower and projection capabilities are more lethal as a result. In the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, we authorized three destroyers, two submarines, two amphibious ships, two oilers, and one frigate. We accelerate unmanned vessels to the maximum sustainable level. We continue to fully support the rapid development of the B-22 Raider bomber and the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine programs, both essential elements of our nuclear triad. In my estimation, this conference report is making the right investments to ensure our military is more effective and has the ability to project power in times of conflict. I particularly appreciate Chairman Courtney's approach to developing bipartisan legislation. I am glad that we are so closely aligned in our subcommittee, and I thank Chairman Courtney for his leadership. Additionally, the conference report makes significant progress on a multitude of family policy issues that are essential to supporting our servicemembers and their families. A 3.1 percent military pay raise; significant improvements in family housing; authorizing paid parental leave, including Mr. Wilson's legislation to address the widow's tax--all of these provisions support and retain our military families. We are concluding our defense policy bill, but now it is time to move the Defense appropriations processes. While I am excited to support this conference report, I also believe that we need to rapidly advance our efforts to conclude the defense appropriations process. I think it is embarrassing for Congress to go home for all of August and early September with the complete understanding that our ineffectiveness wastes billions of dollars and weakens our national security. We can do better. We must do better. We are concluding our defense policy bill, but now it is time to move the defense appropriations process.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for his stout and devout effort to highlight the differences between socialism and capitalism. Just as you have heard, this really is a stark difference. It really is about what was this Nation founded upon. What was it that our Founding Fathers had in mind that was so important to who we are? What were they doing to escape other systems of government to come here to create what has been and will continue to be the most accommodating and perfect form of government ever created? And why has it survived longer than any other form of government? It is because it highlights and allows the human spirit to prevail in all situations. And if you look at just what the definition of socialism is, it does, I think--for anybody out there who looks at this--it does give them pause. If you look at Merriam-Webster, the definition of socialism is: ``Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.'' So rather than an individual saying: Hey, listen, I have got an idea. I am willing to risk my resources. I am willing to put everything I have into this to succeed under a system of capitalism. Under a system of socialism it would be: No, no, no, sorry. The government is going to be in control of this, and if the government sees this as a good thing, then it will allow it to go forward. Another definition: ``A system of society or group living in which there is no private property.'' Think about that. I want everybody out there to think about this, millennials and otherwise, a system where there is no private property. Think about what your life would be if there were no private property--your home, your automobile, all this idea of collectivism is the underpinnings of socialism. Another definition: ``A system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the State.'' So if you have a business and you are very good at what you do, just as Mr. Johnson pointed out, that business in Louisiana that the man was very good at building a company that met the needs of folks that needed building supplies. Sorry, if it is under socialism, the production there at that company is going to be controlled and owned by the State. Now, think about that. Think about those elements and what has made this Nation great. This Nation has not been made great by having things under government control. It is the innovation, it is the creation, it is the willingness to take risks by individuals across this Nation that have provided for the Nation we are today, and I believe it is the greatest provider of human needs. In fact, our system of capitalism which operates in a free market system, in what we know as the free enterprise system, is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice. You hear a lot today about economic justice. Oh, my gosh, there has to be economic justice. Economic justice is provided by the will and creativity of individuals in being able to pursue what falls within their realm of talents. How can they take what they have as individuals, whether it is resources or talents and make the most of those? That is what has made our Nation great. That is the system of government that beyond all others has shown through history to be extraordinarily successful. It has made us the Nation we are today. And it is our job as legislators to point that out, to make sure we enable this system of government to do even more. We look at our economy today, and we understand that government needs to get out of the way. Government needs to be an enabler, government needs to make sure that we allow for the creativity and innovation that again makes this Nation great. It is our job to encourage those businesses to thrive instead of subjecting them to additional regulations. You know the element of deregulation has been phenomenal. And if you talk to businesses today, they love it because they say, Listen, you unleash that entrepreneurial spirit. You unleash the willingness for us to take a risk. You unleash us being innovators and creators and doing things that otherwise wouldn't be possible under a system of socialism. We just saw here recently the jobs report. We have a record unemployment rate being at record low levels. We look at employment in all sectors of our society being at record highs. We look at wage growth increasing--all of those things happening under our system of free enterprise. I will go to Virginia and look at what is happening in Virginia. Virginia was named as one of the top places to do business in 2019, and it is because the State legislature has enabled businesses to prosper. They have created the right mix of leveling the playing field through regulation for businesses, not being over regulatory but making sure that we create a fair and level playing field. That is, indeed, the role of government. That will not happen under a system of socialism where a government is in complete control. That is counter to what made our Nation great. We know that the proposals being made by the other side that espouse these elements and underpinnings of socialism include things like Medicare for All, which is a taxpayer-funded, government-run healthcare system that, by conservative estimate, would cost tens of trillions of dollars and would force 158 million Americans off their private or employer-based healthcare plans. As I talked to folks, they said, ``Listen, give me the choice. I want that individual liberty and freedom,'' that which comes to them under our Constitution. They want to be able to choose. They don't want the government in control. Yet, under socialism, the government is in control. Other measures that include the Green New Deal and a plan to require taxpayers to subsidize Federal elections put the government in control, the government in the driver's seat. So, the ability to self-determine, the ability to say, ``Listen, there are some things that I can do if the government would just make sure that, in the regulatory realm, they level the playing field, make sure they don't take too much of what I earn in order to run the government,'' so that they can, indeed, be successful. Those are the underpinnings of a successful government, a successful system of free enterprise, a system of capitalism that provides for the needs of citizens of our Nation. The Green New Deal would dictate what Americans can eat and where they can travel and how they can power their homes and what they can do to make a living and what they can buy and so much more. It controls that. Again, the idea under the Green New Deal is the government is in control. Let me tell you, if we are going to be a nation where we have energy independence, where we look at having cleaner air, where we look at making sure that we do things that are environmentally responsible, it is unleashing the innovation and creation that comes to us under a system of free enterprise that will do more than, I argue, any government-dictated system. So the Green New Deal, saying government is going to mandate this and mandate that, actually, I think, takes us longer to get to the place where we need to be to make sure that our environment is clean and we are doing the best job possible in using our energy resources. In total, the cost to the taxpayer is unbelievable: $93 trillion, or $600,000 per family, across the Nation. That is not the highest and best provider of human needs, and I understand human needs. Socialism threatens to destroy the very foundation of our great Republic, the foundation that men and women, since our birth, have fought and died for, that idea. That idea that has made our Nation great and will continue to make our Nation great is an idea about individual liberties and freedoms, that is, unleashing the power of individuals to pursue their dreams, to take their innovative and creative skills and do more. And they have made this Nation what it is today. It is through this capitalist idea of limited government, of limited regulation, of unlimited opportunity that creates economic prosperity. As all of us look at where this Nation goes, we ought to be looking at enabling individuals, and the system of capitalism does that. Our Constitution, the greatest governing document ever put together, is the roadmap for that continued greatness. You won't find anywhere in the Declaration of Independence, anywhere in our U.S. Constitution any mention of any principle of socialism. You will find throughout that, though, preserving individual liberties and freedoms, making sure that we are meeting the needs of individuals and making sure the government is there to protect those individual liberties and freedoms that we received from our Creator. That is what has made our Nation great. That is what will continue to make it great. That is what we all need to make sure that we communicate so that we can continue what is and will continue to be the greatest Nation the world has ever known. I thank Mr. Barr so much for the opportunity this evening to speak about what truly is a contrast between the principles of our Republic that operates within a democracy, that system of capitalism versus socialism, and why we know it has made and will continue to make this Nation great.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize those men and women who continue to serve this great Nation with honor--men such as Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Christopher Ragsdale, United States Navy. For the past year, LCDR Ragsdale served on my staff as a Congressional Defense Fellow. A 2007 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, LCDR Flynn is a proud Surface Warfare Officer who served in MCM Crew BULWARK and onboard USS Comstock (LSD-45) and USS Benfold (DDG-65). During his assignment in my office, LCDR Ragsdale provided senior-level input for defense, veterans, foreign affairs and intelligence matters. Additionally, he executed his work as a liaison to the constituents ofVirginia's First Congressional District with distinction. Furthermore, LCDR Ragsdale provided exceptional support to me as a staff liaison to the House Armed Services Committee in my role as the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee Ranking Member. LCDR Ragsdale dutifully provided me with guidance on what the Navy's path forward should be in critical areas such as training, readiness, and manning. His recent experience in the surface community was invaluable to my work in Congress. As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus and the Co- Chair of the Navy-Marine Corps Caucus, I relied on LCDR Ragsdale to organize quarterly events with government, military, and private sector leaders. These events allowed key decisionmakers to work together for the advancement of our future Naval Officers as well as the construction and repair of the ships on which they will serve. LCDR Ragsdale also directly contributed to my goal of providing excellent constituent service to the people of the First District. He was responsible for bringing numerous constituent inquiries to a successful conclusion, and he leveraged his personal and operational experience in the Navy to respond to the most challenging inquiries. In addition to his efforts locally, LCDR Ragsdale took on projects with regional, state, and national implications, demonstrating his ability to view a challenge from many angles and develop innovative solutions. LCDR Ragsdale's work ethic, duty to mission, and commitment to servant leadership is without equal. I believe that his personal drive to achieve excellence in his work has and will set a very high standard for his peers. I would also like to thank LCDR Ragsdale for the service and sacrifice he has made, and continues to make, both for our Nation and our great Navy. His impeccable integrity, boundless work ethic, and loyal devotion to duty earned him the respect and admiration of my staff and the First District of Virginia. I have no doubt that LCDR Ragsdale will continue to serve the Navy honorably and with distinction. I wish Chris and his wife Andrea the best of luck as they continue their journey together as a Navy family. It was an honor and a pleasure having Chris serve on my staff. We all can sleep soundly at night knowing that members of our all-volunteer force like Chris stand ready to defend our country and take the fight to our enemies; far away from their families and the comforts of the United States of America. I thank LCDR Christopher Ragsdale for doing a fantastic job. Best of luck to him and may God bless him, his family, and all the Sailors he is charged with leading.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise also in strong support of H.R. 925, the North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act. And I would also like to thank Mr. Thompson for his extraordinary leadership on this legislation and for his service on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. As he spoke about, he has a passion to make sure that we are preserving that habitat we all value and the wildlife that lives there--not just the migratory birds, but all of the other life that it supports. It is critically important that we continue this program. It is one of the truly successful stories in conservation in our Nation, and, again, I want to thank Mr. Thompson for his leadership. This bill works to reduce wetlands disappearance and to conserve migratory bird habitat. The good part about it is that we, in setting aside this land now, predominantly use conservation easements as a mechanism to do that. I understand the chairman's concern about more acres of land in the Federal inventory and the dollars that it takes to maintain that land. We absolutely have to address that. But the good news here is that many of these acres are in conservation easements, which means they stay in private ownership. They just have an easement from the Federal Government to maintain that critical habitat. That really is the best of both worlds as well as leveraging private dollars with this. What a great example of how to leverage public dollars with private dollars. Several years ago, the duck hunters, en masse, came and said: Listen, we want to increase the duck stamp fee so that we can make sure we have the necessary dollars to match the Federal dollars that go into this program. It was extraordinarily successful. People who enjoy the resources, from bird watchers to hunters and others, have said: We want to put more of our dollars into it. And, again, we are using their tax dollars to leverage those private dollars for this critical habitat. Our wetlands across the United States are Mother Nature's filter for the water that comes off the land and also Mother Nature's nurseries for all that critical wildlife that lives there, both fish, and birds, and other critters that are critical to these environments. They are disappearing at an alarming rate. This bill helps us stem the loss of those wetlands. As I have said, the leveraging of private resources is critical. I think Congress should be doing more to identify these types of Federal programs like NAWCA that have proven to be successful. NAWCA matches funding that then contributes to conservation success in our communities. Let's do more of that. Protecting and restoring and managing wetland habitats is critically important. I would argue, of all of the habitats out there, this habitat, on the scale of value, has the most value across, not just the United States, but across the planet. We have to do more to make sure we are preserving that. It is critical that we invest efficiently to conserve these areas. Investing efficiently means leveraging that one public dollar to three private dollars, and we want to make sure that we are preserving these areas for use for future generations. Unfortunately, wetlands continue to disappear at an alarming rate. This helps stem the disappearance of those wetlands. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Sheriff Steve Dempsey from King George. Steve's service to his community goes without question, and I believe he is worthy of recognition. Sheriff Dempsey's extensive training included both the Metropolitan Police Academy in Washington, D.C. where he was K-9 certified and the FBI Academy where he was able to learn countless hours of information on how to handle increasingly difficult situations ranging from terrorism to financial crime. Sheriff Dempsey, along with his wife Charlene and their family, comes from a long line of public servants--as is evident in Sheriff Dempsey's commitment to his community. Steve was in the Virginia National Guard and served until 1978. He has been with the King George County Sheriff's Department for 39 years, serving as both an officer and a mentor. He was the first K-9 officer in the county and served as a patrol deputy for 7 years. And, on top of all this, he has taught for almost 20 years at the regional academy; passing on vital experience and lessons to members of law enforcement who benefit from his teachings. Not stopping there, he served as the Special Olympics Chair for the Commonwealth from 2017 to 2018 and is currently serving as President of the Virginia Sheriff's Association. I am filled with pride to know all the good that this man has done for his community and our district. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the accomplishments, hard work, and dedication of Sheriff Dempsey. Words alone cannot express our pride, and I am proud to represent him. May God bless him and his family.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the life of Joan Albert Lawler, a respected businesswoman and passionate philanthropist, who touched countless lives by her life and work throughout Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Westmoreland County, Virginia. Born in Syracuse, New York, Joni, grew up in McLean, Virginia. After earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont, she worked at the U.S. House of Representatives on the staff of Hon. Ron Marlenee and Hon. Albert Johnson, as well as the Clerk of the House and the Territorial Caucus. The positive feeling of helping others through legislation was a foundation for her good works that she continued throughout her life. It was here on Capitol Hill that she met her husband, John. They opened a watering hole for the young political community called ``The Third Party'' and were active members of the Congressional Flying Club. While raising her family, Joni earned a real estate license and co-founded a financial consulting firm, East West Financial Services. In 2005, Joni moved with her family full-time to the Northern Neck of Virginia where she used her wide-ranging experience in business and philanthropy to become a pillar of the community, admired for her leadership, generosity, and grace. She served on the boards and committees of numerous organizations, creating many fundraising events that became beloved local traditions. She always volunteered her time and leadership, establishing successful fundraising events that became longstanding traditions, with Our Lady of Victory Church and the elementary and high schools her three daughters attended including Our Lady of Victory School, Washington Waldorf School, and St. Margaret's School where she also served on the Board of Governors. Joni was guided by her deep faith, and spearheaded a successful capital campaign to support the construction of a new church rectory and office for St. Paul's Mission in Hague, VA. She truly was a doer of good works. A pillar in the Commonwealth of Virginia, she was always striving to make a difference. I can assure you that our nation and Commonwealth is a greater, more successful place, due to her ever-present leadership and generosity. She is an example of community leaders that we all wish to emulate. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in remembering the life of Joan Albert Lawler, a life lived serving her community. Words alone cannot express our gratitude. May God bless Joni and her family.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of Commander Justin D. Goss, United States Navy. After 20 years of dedicated service to our great nation, today marks his retirement from active duty. Commander Goss grew up in Fairfax, VA, and graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. He earned his commission from Officer Candidate School in 2000. As a Surface Warfare Officer, he served on USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), USS Zephyr (PC-8), USS Stout (DDG-55), and in Riverine Squadron ONE. He was also assigned as an exchange officer with the Royal Navy where he served aboard HMS Marlborough (F233) and HMS York (D98). Following his lateral transfer into the Foreign Area Officer community, Goss was assigned as the Chief, Office of Security Cooperation, at the United States Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. Additionally, he served on staff positions at U.S. Africa Command and the Navy's Military Personnel, Plans, and Policy Directorate. Commander Goss' final tour of duty was serving as the Deputy Director of the Navy's House of Representatives Liaison Office (LA-4) where he was instrumental in developing and fostering key relationships between Department of the Navy officials, members of Congress and their personal and professional staffs. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in thanking Commander Goss, his wife Suzanne and his children Thomas, Orla, Arthur, Wilfred, and Agnes for their incredible sacrifices, devotion, and service to our nation; words cannot express our gratitude. We wish them well as they embark on a new adventure together.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, uranium is essential to both our national security and energy security. It supplies many critical military technologies and fuels our domestic nuclear reactors, which provide 20 percent of our Nation's electricity. Early this summer, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross issued findings that concluded ``uranium is being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.'' Most recently, President Trump agreed, saying ``that the United States uranium industry faces significant challenges in producing uranium domestically and that this is an issue of national security.'' This bill would have a negative impact on our national security and energy security, as it aims to permanently prohibit the mining of rare earths and critical minerals on over 1 million acres of public land, increasing our dependence on imported foreign sources of uranium. My motion to recommit would delay the implementation of this legislation until the Secretary of the Interior issues a report concluding that this permanent, million-acre withdrawal of lands from mineral development will not increase U.S. imports of critical minerals like uranium from countries hostile to the United States' interests-- countries like former Soviet Union bloc countries or Namibia, where the Chinese have taken control of uranium mines. Increasingly, our adversaries like China and Russia are competing for natural resources and using them as proxies to extend their political and strategic aims. The U.S. is losing our domestic uranium production capacity and becoming more reliant on uranium imports from countries that do not have our best interests in mind, and this bill would only exacerbate the problem. In 2018, 97 percent of U.S. demand for uranium was met by foreign imports. At least 51 percent of those uranium imports were sourced from countries that are unfriendly to the United States, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Chinese-owned mines in Namibia. In the past, we have been able to rely on friendly countries for these resources. Unfortunately, uranium imports from Australia and Canada have been declining in recent years. Currently, only one Canadian mine remains operational, creating an increasingly fragile supply chain. As a result, we are becoming more dependent on China and Russia for critical natural resources. I have dedicated my time on the Armed Services Committee to maintaining a strong defense industrial base in the face of increased near-peer competition from China and Russia. These adversaries are weaponizing natural resources like uranium to implement a dedicated strategy that advances their geopolitical aims while undermining our own. We should not allow our adversaries to dominate the mining, production, and markets of these critical resources. If we do, we weaken our position and are subject to increased economic and military pressure from Beijing and Moscow. It would be shortsighted to permanently lock away the highest grade and largest deposit of uranium in this country. Instead of rushing headlong into permanently restricting 1 million acres of uranium-rich land, we absolutely must understand the true impacts of this legislation and the long-term, true impacts on the national security of our country. Mr. Speaker, we can do both. We can conserve our natural resources and make sure we protect our national security. To do anything less is an abandonment of our responsibilities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support our national security, support this motion to recommit, and vote against H.R. 1373. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

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

Mr. WITTMAN. Yes, in its current form.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 300th Anniversary of the founding of King George County in Virginia, taking place on November 15, 2019. The area we know as King George has a long and storied history that is integral to the overall history and development of America's government and way of life as we know it today. Its history stretches back over 10,000 years with its settlement by Native Americans, through Captain John Smith's explorations in the early 1600's, through the French and Indian Wars, Bacon's Rebellion, the Whiskey Rebellion, the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II and into the modern era. King George has been the birthplace and childhood home of Presidents, and home to some of the very founders of our great Nation. King George County has served as the home of one of the country's great military and research development centers for over 100 years, as well as functioned as a focal point for commerce and trade for our nation. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the founding of King George County. Words cannot express how grateful we are to have a place with such history in the founding of our great Nation. May God bless King George County and its residents, and continue to prosper for another 300 years.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the partisan impeachment inquiry currently under way by House Democrats. They have elected to make this a closed-door, partisan process with no fairness, transparency, due process, or accountability to the American people. It is absolutely necessary for the Speaker to hold a vote in the full House to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry. Regardless of which party held the majority in the past, there has been an authorization vote because it allows the House to adopt procedures that will provide for the minority to be an equal part of this process. We cannot even get access to testimony from the secret hearings. Considering impeaching a duly elected President should be significant enough to demand transparency, due process, and an open and fair proceeding. In wake of this partisan exercise, we have abandoned the work of the people. We should be passing legislation that is bipartisan to lower the price of prescription drugs and approving the USMCA that will create millions of jobs for hardworking Americans. We cannot afford to put these priorities on the back burner, and I know the folks in my district agree.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Grace Quinn Goodpasture for being selected as a recipient of a Student- Athlete-Scholarship from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Grace attends the Steward School in Ashland, Virginia, where she played 4 years of Varsity Soccer, lettering all four years. She was also a member of the Varsity Cross Country and Dive team, lettering in those as well. She says community service is a core value of her family and has always been a part of her life. She has earned her Gold Award in the Girl Scouts and was a Senate Page for the Virginia Senate. Her spirit of service should inspire all of us. I commend her on receiving this recognition for her distinguished scholastic, leadership, and sportsmanship attributes and the importance of high school athletics in her life. Recognition of her work in the community, in the classroom, and on the athletic field is a testament to her commitment to hard work and service to others. She is an example of the leaders that we will need to guide our nation and the Virginia Commonwealth in the future. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Grace Goodpasture for her achievements in her community. May God bless Grace and her family.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Grace Quinn Goodpasture for being selected as a recipient of a Student- Athlete-Scholarship from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Grace attends the Steward School in Ashland, Virginia, where she played 4 years of Varsity Soccer, lettering all four years. She was also a member of the Varsity Cross Country and Dive team, lettering in those as well. She says community service is a core value of her family and has always been a part of her life. She has earned her Gold Award in the Girl Scouts and was a Senate Page for the Virginia Senate. Her spirit of service should inspire all of us. I commend her on receiving this recognition for her distinguished scholastic, leadership, and sportsmanship. This recognition of her work in the community, in the classroom, and on the athletic field is a testament to her commitment to hard work and service to others. She is an example of the leaders that we will need to guide our nation and the Virginia Commonwealth in the future. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing Grace Goodpasture for her achievements in her community. May God bless Grace and her family.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Charles E. Ingram, who is retiring after 28 years of public service as a Member of the Mathews County Board of Supervisors. Charles said his philosophy of public service is to always be fair, reasonable and impartial in dealings with everyone, focus on the community and the wonderful people of Mathews County. Charles and his wife, Jean Flippin Ingram, have been married for 61 years and have raised their family in Mathews, Virginia. They have two daughters, Jeannie Elliott and Robin Jenkins, as well as two grandsons and one great-granddaughter. Charles spent four years in the U.S. Army, serving 15 months in Korea. He is a member of Macedonia Baptist Church, Mathews American Legion Post 83, and Oriental Lodge No. 20. He also serves on the board of directors of the Mathews Farm Bureau. Charles has been a businessman in Mathews County for over six decades, concurrently operating a barber shop for 63 years and a daffodil farm for 55 years. He has previously served on the Mathews Memorial Library Board of Trustees and the Middle Peninsula Community Criminal Justice Board. Charles' tremendous contributions to his community include: building one new school and renovating two others, building a new auditorium at Mathews High School, closing the landfill and constructing a new transfer station, renovating and adding onto Mathews Memorial Library, building a new court house, supporting a new senior center and installing a new 911 system. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the accomplishments, tenacity, and dedication of Charles Ingram. Words alone cannot express our gratitude. May God bless Charles Ingram and his family.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Woodford ``Woody'' L. Johnson, Sr. a native of Laneview, Virginia, Essex County, who will be retiring after 48 years of service with the Tappahannock Police Department. Mr. Johnson is also a U.S. Army veteran who served our country proudly with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam. Woody was employed by the Tappahannock Police Department in December 1971 as a police officer. At that time, there were only four police officers in the department. Woody has seen many changes in law enforcement and society since that time but has always been professional and dedicated to the community he serves. He has truly been an example of what a law enforcement officer should be. Woody served several years as the Town Sergeant for Tappahannock and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1995. He is also a graduate of the Virginia Forensic Science Academy and has served for many years as the department's forensic technician. Woody is also a baseball and softball umpire for both high school and church league games. Woody has one son, Woody Jr., who is employed by the Federal Reserve in Richmond, daughter in-law Kelley, and grandson Mason. In an era where people change jobs and occupations frequently, Woody has stayed true to his chosen profession. The Tappahannock Police Department has been extremely fortunate to have had someone like Woody Johnson and he will be missed by his fellow officers but most of all, by the community.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Hope ``Jackie'' Murphy Whittaker, who passed away on 20 August 2019. She was born 20 January 1935, the only child of Frank Marvin Murphy of Ayrfield and Hope Alice Dadmun of Petersburg and Norfolk. Jackie lived a long and varied life, raising her children, managing the farm, Ayrfield, where her family has lived since 1769, working on the Virginia Tech Extension Farm at Liberty Hall in Mount Holly, and spending 18 years as a customer service representative at Dominion Power before retiring in 1997. Jackie was a Red Cross water safety instructor in her youth, and was an avid hunter and fisherman, inviting others into the outdoors with her enthusiasm. She inherited her mother's love of music and singing; she particularly enjoyed classical music and opera. She directed the choir at Yeocomico Church for several years. Jackie participated in various other nearby choral groups over the years as well, such as the Essex Community Chorus, and concerts at Andrew Chapel and St. James in Montross. When her children approached school age, she added her forceful support to the other local parents who sought to establish a small private school to provide their children the best possible education. Their efforts resulted in the creation of Woodland Academy in Neenah, VA, a place of quality primary education for nearly 50 years. She was as active in the Boy Scouts as her son, serving on the District Committee and participating in many district Camporees and training events. She was a patriot who held an undying belief in the greatness and wonder of this country. Jackie graduated from St. Margaret's School in Tappahannock and then went to Westhampton College in Richmond for a year before attending and graduating from Women's College of Greensboro in 1957. She was predeceased in 1997 by her husband of 35 years, Arthur Davis Whittaker. She is survived by a son, Cmdr. A. Davis Whittaker, Jr, (Lynn); a daughter, Sarah Leigh Whittaker Montuori (David); a grandson, Anthony Francis Arthur Montuori; a step-daughter, Anne Marie Whittaker, and a lot of extended family and dear friends in the Northern Neck she loved so much.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Sheriff Steve Dempsey from King George. Steve's service to his community goes without question, and I believe he is worthy of recognition. Sheriff Dempsey's extensive training included both the Metropolitan Police Academy in Washington, D.C. where he was K-9 certified and the FBI Academy where he was able to learn countless hours of information on how to handle increasingly difficult situations ranging from terrorism to financial crime. Sheriff Dempsey, along with his wife Charlene and their family, comes from a long line of public servants--as is evident in Sheriff Dempsey's commitment to his community. Steve was in the Virginia National Guard and served until 1978. He has been with the King George County Police Department for 39 years, serving as both an officer and a mentor. He was the first K-9 officer in the county and served as a patrol deputy for 7 years. And, on top of all this, he has taught for almost 20 years at the regional academy; passing on vital experience and lessons to members of law enforcement who benefit from his teachings. Not stopping there, he served as the Special Olympics Chair for the Commonwealth from 2017 to 2018 and is currently serving as President of the Virginia Sheriff's Association. I am filled with pride to know all the good that this man has done for his community and our district. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in recognizing the accomplishments, hard work, and dedication of Sheriff Dempsey. Words alone cannot express our pride, and I am proud to represent him. May God bless him and his family.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Mohammad Siddique Sheikh's nearly five decades of service to our great Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Sheikh was born and raised in Gujranwala, Pakistan, before moving to the United States 50 years ago. He came with just $10 dollars in his pocket, and today he is a very successful businessman living the American dream. Since moving to this country, Mr. Sheikh has served our country as a successful entrepreneur and advocate for the Pakistani American community in the larger Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Mr. Sheikh has also been on several academic boards and business institutions, including George Mason University, one of Virginia's largest public research institutions. He is also the Founder of the Pakistan American Business Association (PABA), a representative body of entrepreneurs of Pakistani-origin. In recognition of his service and commitment, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Council on Diversity formed by the Police Chief of Fairfax County. He served in this position for more than five years. Mr. Sheikh is a selfless and dedicated leader in the Pakistani American community. He has been a torch-bearer in promoting Pakistan's friendly image in the United States. Mr. Sheikh's servant leadership can be witnessed in his work when he helped create the Muslim Community Center in the state of Maryland and being a leading voice in the creation of Islamic Circle of North America Sunday School for Muslim communities residing in the DC metro area. In the education field, Mr. Sheikh has been a dominate force in promoting connections between higher institutions in Pakistan and the United States. As a member of the Board of Visitors at George Mason University and Pakistan's National University of Science of Technology, he led an effort to create opportunities for National University of Science and Technology faculty and students to study at George Mason University through various programs. He also played an active role in promoting cooperation between GMU and University of Karachi. Today, the two institutions are now working on various initiatives and programs. Madam Speaker, I have had the privilege to know Mr. Sheikh for many years and count him as a friend. I ask you to join me in recognition of Mr. Mohammad Siddique Sheikh leadership, passion, and determination in service to our great nation.

Mr. WITTMAN

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chair, in conclusion, I want to point to the 2016 report that assessed that additional refuelings would increase Navy fleet operating costs by several billion dollars a year. Mr. Chair, as we are looking to rebuild the Navy, that means ships that will not get built. That will mean less operating capability. That will mean ships that need to be at dock for longer periods of time for maintenance and for refueling. A larger submarine reactor core, which is what DOD says would be needed for LEU, requires a larger submarine, and it makes those submarines less capable and less efficient. It also requires massive redesigns, so it interrupts existing submarine construction programs. All of those things have significant impacts on the capability of the Navy. Take the Virginia-class submarine reactor, which operates on a 33- year ship expectancy. That would cut that by one-third, which means it would have to come back and be refueled again. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Chair, I remind the gentleman from Rhode Island that this is the National Defense Authorization Act. It is not another appropriations bill. This is specific to the use of these dollars here for these purposes specifically. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria).