Mark Walker

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding constituent on his 102nd birthday--Dr. Victor Tynes from Guilford County. I am honored to acknowledge this joyous milestone, filled with memories and experiences. I am grateful for the opportunity to thank Dr. Tynes for his military service. A United States Army veteran of World War II, Dr. Tynes served our country with honor. Furthermore, Dr. Tynes is a great ambassador of his alma mater, North Carolina A&T University. A member of the class of 1940, Dr. Tynes served in the English and Biology Departments and as the Director of Public Relations. North Carolina has been truly fortunate to share in his long legacy of achievement. I join with his family, friends, alma mater and the Sixth District in congratulating Mr. Victor Tynes on this special occasion.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be here today. Thank you for your leadership on this, Congressman Davis. Currently, the United States Capitol Police are not allowed to transfer donations from the USCP Memorial Fund to officers injured in the line of duty but only to families of deceased officers. The great thing about this legislation is that it would allow the U.S. Capitol Police to transfer those donations to injured officers as well as families of deceased officers to help defray and cover some of the medical costs. As a former pastor, I can tell you that one of the biggest stressors on families is when there has been an illness or injury to these families that causes additional financial strain. This is common sense. It is certainly bipartisan, across-the-aisle of doing the right thing. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this legislation. Again, I thank Representative Davis for his leadership, as well as Representative Brady, and I am proud to support this piece of legislation.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Goodlatte for yielding. I appreciate his boldness in protecting the citizens of America with great legislation. Mr. Speaker, when the father of Kate Steinle, Jim, testified before Congress, he said: ``Everywhere Kate went throughout the world, she shined the light of a good citizen from the United States of America. Unfortunately, due to unjointed laws and basic incompetence of the government, the United States has suffered a self-inflicted wound in the murder of our daughter by the hand of a person that should have never been on the streets in this country.'' Well, today we can resolve that. Two years ago this weekend, Kate's life was ended when she was gunned down by a five-time deported criminal illegal alien with seven prior felony convictions. Kate's Law would stiffen penalties, helping to stop these preventable tragedies. Additionally, today the House will pass the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act as well. You just heard: Will Democrats participate? Well, 80 percent of Americans support ending sanctuary cities, and no citizen should be in danger because politicians think they are above the law. So will Democrats participate? Will they listen to their constituents? Eighty percent of Americans feel pretty good about this law. Both pieces of legislation serve the basic functions of our government by keeping the people of our States and country safe from those who wish to do us harm.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, our country will celebrate our independence and the rebuke of the British monarchy. Even still, we know across America, but especially in the great State of North Carolina, we have our own king, who turns 80 on Sunday. Richard ``The King'' Petty is the most decorated and respected driver in the history of motor sports. His legendary 43 car dominated race tracks for decades. He has even been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H.W. Bush. More importantly than Mr. Petty's work on the track are the lives that he has impacted. The Petty family, through the work of multiple charities and the impactful Victory Junction Camp, has served children with disabilities in incredible ways. Mr. Petty, you and Kyle and the rest of the family even showed what grace and dignity looks like in the loss of a grandson. We wish you a happy birthday today, Richard ``The King'' Petty. Thank you for all you do for the people of North Carolina, and I will be looking for that hat, those sunglasses, and that bright smile for years to come.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of William Henry ``Doc'' Long, a veteran of World War II and liberator of France at Ancerviller on November 13, 1944. William Long was a member of the ``Greatest Generation'' and a true patriot. Mr. Long graduated from Summerfield High School just eight months before the attack at Pearl Harbor. Throughout his life, Mr. Long was active in his community, church and the trucking industry. To honor his more than 70 years of service to the transportation industry, the American Truck Historical Society recognized Mr. Long with the Golden Achievement Award. He served diligently at his church, Summerfield Peace United Methodist, and on the Summerfield School Committee. He was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner, a lifetime member of the American Legion and the former Vice President of the 315th Regiment of the 79th Infantry Division Army Association. Mr. Long was inducted into the French Legion of Honor by a decree of former French President Sarkozy for his decisive role and personal contribution to the liberation of France during World War II. His name is on a monument in the village of Ancerviller, along with other men who fought so bravely to restore freedom. Mr. Long's numerous achievements and service to his country will not be forgotten. I join with his family, friends, community and the entire Sixth District in remembrance of William Henry ``Doc'' Long, a true American hero.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Franks as he continues to stand year after year in fighting and standing up for the unborn child. Many times you get to meet some wonderful people here in the United States Congress. And someone asked me the other day: Who is a strong Member? Who is someone who is willing to stand up? I guess they might have thought I would have said the Speaker or the majority leader, as well they do in their own right. When I think of somebody willing to engage, it is the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Black). She is not just known in the Sixth District; she is known throughout all of Tennessee as far as being willing to stand up for those who cannot stand up and protect themselves. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Black).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe and appreciate his continued service. It is a privilege to certainly work with him in the House. One of our newest Members who came in the 115th class, a gentleman by the name of Jim Banks--in fact, he is the only new Member serving on the Republican Steering Committee. Some would describe him as a quick study, I guess, but he is here this evening to specifically talk about continued VA accountability and the Department of Defense readiness. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, many times as our Members in the House travel throughout our districts, we are often asked: What is being done in the House? What is being accomplished? Well, this afternoon we are going to take a few minutes and allow you to hear directly from the Members, something that we like to call the People's Night. This is the people's House, so from time to time we like to bypass any of the outlets and talk directly to the American people. Now, a lot of people might not know specifically what has been going on in the House. Well, I think these visuals may aid in specifically talking about some of the things that we are accomplishing. For example, if you will see the chart, this chart lists the House- passed bills to date. It also includes the last four Presidents. As you can see, the House of the 115th Congress has passed 158 pieces of legislation; 158 bills we have sent to the Senate or to the President. The House isn't the only one that has been busy. Our President has been busy. In fact, if you will notice this chart behind, you will notice that we are also at a record pace if you look at the last four, five Presidents. Of these bills, the President has signed 37 bills into law, compared with the next most, which was George Herbert Walker Bush many years ago, with 35. That is what the House is working on; it is what we are working with the Senate, we are working with the President. But this afternoon I want you to hear directly from some of the Members themselves who have been very instrumental not only in what we have accomplished, but also some of the things that we are looking forward to accomplishing over the next few months. The first person I would like to introduce to you is our chairman of the Financial Services Committee, Jeb Hensarling. Representative Hensarling is from Texas' Fifth District and has been instrumental in doing something that we have been promising and trying to accomplish for many years. Mr. Speaker, with that, I yield to Chairman Jeb Hensarling, my good friend.

Mr. WALKER. Thank you, Chairman Hensarling. Most people would not describe your role as a small part in making sure that people have more opportunities in our financial industry. Not that we are showing Texas any partiality this evening, but our second Representative is a former Federal prosecutor from the great State of Texas, and many would consider one of the top conservatives in all of the United States Congress, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ratcliffe), my friend, is here to talk about the CFPB, among some other issues. So without further ado, I yield to Mr. Ratcliffe.

Mr. WALKER. I thank Representative Ratcliffe for his comments. Mr. Speaker, once again, if people are watching at home or are gathering here today, I want to remind them that, many times--Members of Congress, when you go back home, you hear a lot of times: Do your job; get things done. And as I reflect your attention again to our chart here this evening, we can talk a little bit about what we have passed in the House: 158, the most in several different administrations. However, even though we are going to talk tonight a little about what we have done and what we look forward to, we are not stopping with 158, we are not stopping with the 37 that have been signed into law. We are looking forward to doing some new things. I think one of the best people to talk about something that we are excited about is certainly somebody that I call a friend, a fellow member, a colleague from North Carolina, someone who allows me to tag along into NASCAR country from time to time, a real friend of the people, someone who I have learned that will tell you the truth no matter what you ask. It is my privilege to yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Hudson for his passion about that. Speaking of passion, in the 2\1/2\ years that I have served in the United States Congress, there are Members who work on different projects, different concerns, different issues. I will tell you someone who I have really grown to love and appreciate, someone who has lived it out on the battlefield as he has worked to literally put veterans back together as a surgeon on the battlefield, someone who understands and has worked well into the life arena, and that is Dr. Brad Wenstrup, a fellow steering committee member on the Republican Steering Committee. Without further ado, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio, Dr. Wenstrup, to please share what is on his heart today.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Wenstrup. I appreciate his passionate plea. Speaking of life, one of the most outstanding voices that I have gotten a chance to meet, someone who, without compromise, unashamedly talks about the value and the worth of an unborn child is Representative Trent Franks from Arizona. He is here today to talk about a future bill, hopefully one that we can add to this total of 37 in the not too distant future. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Franks), someone who is a warrior in Congress.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Black. When we talk about what is getting done, I want to remind our audience this evening, Mr. Speaker, that our President, even without a full Cabinet, has been busy taking time to make sure that what the House and the Senate are sending him is being signed into law. As you can see on my chart this evening, 37, that is the most. You have to go back. In fact, the last four Presidents haven't equalled that total. And 158 bills from the House have been passed. One of the things that has been promised by this administration and by Members of Congress is to make sure that we are doing everything we can to take care of a very important segment of our population, and that is our veterans. It wasn't long after I arrived 2\1/2\ years ago that I had a chance to meet someone. Now, as a former pastor, you can always tell the character and integrity of someone when they have gone through a hardship. I met Dr. Phil Roe after he had lost a loved one in his life. He could have gone home, but he had a mission to complete, and that is to stand up for those veterans who needed standing up. A former physician himself, he was willing to come back and continue to fight. What a privilege it is to serve with the chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Dr. Phil Roe. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Banks, and I appreciate this is such an important issue that he is battling. Once again, this evening, Mr. Speaker, we are reminding that tonight is the People's Night here in the people's House. We are focusing in on the work of the Members of Congress. As you can see in our chart this evening, 158 bills have been passed through Congress. So many times we continue to hear: What is Congress working on? Well, not only have we passed these 158, we are still working on passing things in the future. One of the great Members from South Carolina, Mr. Jeff Duncan, is someone who has a genuine heart and passion for others, but also has a wonderful heart for the outdoors, as he is currently chairman of the Sportsmen's Caucus. Without further ado, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Duncan. Many times in Congress you hear sometimes maybe big words or crazy words, words like ``appropriations'' or ``appropriators.'' We have one of those appropriators with us tonight, a strong conservative from the State of Georgia, my friend, Representative Tom Graves, who is going to talk a little bit about his proposal and an idea that I believe helps us continue adding to this number of 158. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Graves. It doesn't take you long, around the Halls of Congress, to see someone who has a genuine heart for service, someone who can quickly give up his chair, or someone who sees someone that is without. Sometimes I think that is a person who has served in faith many years, and sometimes I just think that is part of the natural tendency of a person who certainly has a heart, not only for God but to serve others. I can think of nobody who better fits that description than our chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, here to talk a little bit about his passion and his vision for tax reform. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Brady for his comments. It is an honor to have him with us this evening. We have talked a little bit about veterans tonight. Former veteran, chaplain, and pastor, Representative Collins, we would love for you to talk about something that is part of that 158 pieces of legislation that has been passed, what we called the REINS Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Collins for his comments. As we continue to talk about some of the things that have been accomplished and also things that we are looking forward to, it is a wonderful opportunity to introduce my friend, Representative Jody Hice from the great State of Georgia, a fellow former pastor who still enjoys those opportunities, I am sure, when you have a few. But tonight I want him to talk about the Free Speech Fairness Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Jody B. Hice).

Mr. WALKER. I thank Representative Hice and I appreciate his courage in being willing to stand and speak out. My great friend, Representative Gary Palmer, from the home of the University, Crimson Tide Alabama football, great to have you here tonight talking about a very important issue, the Agency Accountability Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Palmer), who will close us out this evening.

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Palmer and all the Members for coming out this evening and listening to our presentation on the passage of 158 bills. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Central Carolina Homeschoolers (CCH) high school mock trial team. On May 13, 2017, the CCH mock trial team won the 2017 National High School Mock Trial Championship in Hartford, Connecticut. I, along with the rest of the Sixth District, express my sincere congratulations to this team. Based in Randolph County, the CCH team is the first North Carolina school to win the National Championship in this annual competition. I am pleased to recognize Caitlin Kelly, Joshua Way, Jonah Moss, Heather Pennington, Allyn Sims, Madysen Bailey, Emily Polson and David Bainbridge Jr. for their diligence in accomplishing this exceptional feat. I would also like to acknowledge the team's coaches, Maria Bailey and Darren Allen, for their dedication to these students. Once again, I congratulate the CCH mock trial team for this momentous accomplishment and wish these students much success in the future.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the ordering of the yeas and nays on the motion that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 984) to extend Federal recognition to the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, the Chickahominy Indian Tribe--Eastern Division, the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, the Rappahannock Tribe, Inc., the Monacan Indian Nation, and the Nansemond Indian Tribe, be vacated, to the end that the Chair put the question de novo.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding constituent on her 100th birthday--Esther Ward of Randolph County. I am pleased to share in the momentous celebration of her 100th birthday, and I am honored to acknowledge this joyous milestone, filled with memories and experiences. It is not only a time of happiness, but a time to reflect on the lives Esther has enriched. In particular, Esther continues to be a pillar of her church, Hopewell Friends Meeting of Asheboro. North Carolina has been truly fortunate to share in her long legacy of achievement. I join with her family, friends, church and the Sixth District in congratulating Esther on this special occasion.

Mr. WALKER

Mr. WALKER. I thank Dr. Babin. I appreciate that spirited, heartfelt talk. In my previous vocation, we would usually call for an invitation at about this time. Mr. Speaker, this is not just a problem in red States; this is a problem in blue States, like it is with my good friend from the First District of California, Representative Doug LaMalfa, to whom I yield as he shares a little bit of his heart when it comes to ObamaCare and the repeal.