Mark Walker

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5415) to require agencies to submit reports on outstanding recommendations in the annual budget justification submitted to Congress, as amended.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 5415, the GAO- IG Act. The Government Accountability Office and inspectors general are two of the best sources for recommendations to improve the operations of the Federal Government. Their efforts help fight waste, fraud, and abuse; promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the executive branch; and save taxpayer dollars. GAO and inspector general audits and investigations often end with corrective recommendations to the agency reviewed. As of May 2018, the GAO has issued more than 1,500 products with about 4,800 open recommendations. Since 2014, IGs have issued over 8,900 reports, with approximately 40,300 total recommendations. During that same time period, IGs identified over $99 billion in potential savings through their audits, investigations, and recommendations. But all of these recommendations are only as valuable as the agency's commitment to implement them. I introduced the GAO-IG Act to ensure every agency evaluates and implements recommendations by GAO and the inspector general. The bill requires agencies to include the unresolved GAO and IG recommendations within their annual budget justification to Congress. Agencies must also report on the implementation status of each recommendation and why they are not fully implemented. This creates a formal process in which agencies must take stock of their open and unimplemented recommendations each year. This increased transparency will encourage each agency to work with GAO and its inspector general to identify and implement high-priority open recommendations. I would like to thank Representatives Palmer, Duncan, Bishop, and Fitzpatrick for their cosponsorship of this legislation. I would also like to thank Chairman Gowdy and Ranking Member Cummings of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for their support. The bill passed out of the committee unanimously by voice vote earlier this year. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4446) to amend the Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission Act to extend the expiration date of the Commission, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4446, introduced by the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett). H.R. 4446 would extend the Virgin Islands Centennial Commission by a period of 1 year. Congress established the Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the transfer of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the United States. The Commission was delayed in convening. As a result, no events have been planned or carried out, and there is no final report available detailing the Commission's recommended activities. This bill extends the life of the Commission by 1 year to give it more time to plan events celebrating this important moment in American history. The bill also delays the deadline for submitting the final report by 1 year. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4890) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9801 Apollo Drive in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, as the ``Wayne K. Curry Post Office Building''.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4890, a bill to name the post office at 9801 Apollo Drive in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, after Wayne K. Curry. Mr. Curry was born in Brooklyn in 1951, but grew up in Cheverly, Maryland. After graduating from Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College, Curry began working for Prince George's County while earning his law degree at night. In 1944, Wayne Curry ran and was elected to the position of county executive. Curry passed away from lung cancer on July 2, 2014, at the age of 63. He was a dedicated public servant, and we honor him today by naming a post office after him in the county in which he served. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5238) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1234 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Major Robert Odell Owens Post Office''.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5238, a bill to name the post office at 1234 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York, after Major Robert Odell Owens. Major Owens led a life of public service, beginning as a librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library. At around the same time, Owens became a member of the Brooklyn chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, where he worked to fight racism and discrimination in New York City. From 1975 to 1982, Owens served as New York State senator. In 1982, Owens won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he went on to serve 24 years as a representative to the citizens of New York City. In Congress, Owens fought passionately for many causes, including education policy. He was active in the Congressional Black Caucus Education Brain Trust, promoting reading, science, and math education. This bill would honor Congressman Owens' service by naming a post office in Brooklyn in his name. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4407) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3s101 Rockwell Street in Warrenville, Illinois, as the ``Corporal Jeffery Allen Williams Post Office Building.''

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4407, introduced by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren). H.R. 4407 would name the post office on Rockwell Street in Warrenville, Illinois, in honor of the life and service of Corporal Jeffery Allen Williams. Corporal Williams was born in 1985 and graduated from Wheaton Warrenville South High School in 2003. Shortly after graduating, Williams joined the Army and trained to become a medical specialist, dedicating his career and life to help his fellow soldiers. Williams was deployed to Iraq in 2005, where he was assigned as a medic in then-Colonel H.R. McMaster's personal security detachment. Tragically, Corporal Williams was killed in action in Iraq in September 2005. He is remembered by his troop as a dedicated, tough, and disciplined medic who always put others before himself. His decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Army Commendation Medal. We thank Corporal Williams for his service and sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill to honor him. I look forward to hearing more about Corporal Williams from the sponsor of this bill, Mr. Hultgren, in a few minutes, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren), who is the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2692) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4558 Broadway in New York, New York, as the ``Stanley Michels Post Office Building''.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2692, a bill to name the post office at 4558 Broadway in New York, New York, after Stanley E. Michels. Stanley Michels was a lawyer and politician from Washington Heights who was a New York councilman from 1978 to 2001. He was active in environmental protection and public health, having sponsored New York City's first law regulating smoking in public places. Michels also sponsored one of the first city laws to prevent childhood lead poisoning, and he played a significant role in expanding the city's recycling program. Stanley Michels was a dedicated public servant. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.