Steven Watkins

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the life and work of the late Nancy Epoch. This poster shows a picture of her on the left. On the right, is college professor Sally Glassman, probably the best tap dance teacher in Kansas, but that is another speech entirely. Mrs. Epoch was beloved by all. She was a music teacher, a choral director, a Chiefs superfan, and a legitimate Broadway talent who then returned home. What she really did was that she enabled young and old kids to find their voice, be bold, and share it with the world. So, Mrs. Epoch, from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to you in Heaven, first, I thank you for that first Chiefs Super Bowl victory. I am pretty sure that that was you. We love you, and we miss you.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kansas Middle School wrestling coach Nick Gieber. To be clear, he is not dead. He is way too tough for that. For decades, Coach Gieber would transform boys into men through wrestling practices that were so hard we thought that death was an option. But it wasn't just developing us mentally and physically, he also developed a sense of camaraderie, rapport, integrity, and honor. He would say, ``You never know, boys. Today could be the most beautiful day in the world.'' Coach Gieber, from the floor of the United States House of Representatives, thank you. And you never know, today could be the most beautiful day in the world.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, Kansas recently said good-bye to a very, very special woman, Lavonna Lemons. She was a tough Kansas woman who spent most of her 71 years helping out other people. You see, she was a rape counselor. She also helped at a homeless mission, and she took in abused children. She would often open her home to anyone in need. She was a fearless fighter, and the world is a better place because of it. On behalf of so many you helped, on behalf of my family, particularly my mother, Barbara; two of my dear friends; your daughters, Lora and Leia; from the floor of the United States House of Representatives to you in Heaven: We love you. We miss you. We will see you soon. God bless.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 8265 to extend the Paycheck Protection Program to keep millions of employees on the payroll of America's small businesses.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, I was unfortunately unable to vote due to a personal matter. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 162; NAY on Roll Call No. 163; YEA on Roll Call No. 164; YEA on Roll Call No. 165; and NAY on Roll Call No. 166.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of President Trump and fellow Kansan, Secretary Mike Pompeo, in their dealings with China. This includes closing the consulate in Houston. The CCP has for decades been using meticulous multidimensional strategies to degrade and undermine American hegemony and democracies around the world. Chairman Ghee has accelerated these efforts. That is clearly apparent in the CCP's dealings with COVID-19, their mass detention of more than a million Uighurs, and their violation of Hong Kong's sovereignty. Every action that China takes affects the global economy and security and, more importantly, the lives of Americans. China's repeated aggression and nefarious actions have proven China cannot be trusted. Thankfully, we now have an American President and a Secretary of State who won't be treating China with kid gloves and a President unlike any other in history who will be tough on China.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of democracy around the world and, in particular, in Jammu and Kashmir. The human rights violations there are already alarming. And now with COVID-19 plaguing the world, people there and everywhere must have access to the tools necessary to fight this disease. As telecommunication blackouts, suppression of media reports, human rights abuses, and mass detentions continue in Jammu and Kashmir, COVID-19 concerns are amplified. There have already been disturbing reports that PPE and critical equipment are being blocked from entering the region. Without adequate resources and internet access, hospitals and medical centers don't stand a chance. And lives being lost are lost to the world. I urge the global community and actors in the region to work together to ensure that citizens of Jammu and Kashmir have access to the care, services, and resources needed to defeat this disease.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, leaders everywhere should decry the violent crowds toppling our statues. Our systems are the greatest ever devised by mankind. They deliver more equality, more justice, more liberty, and more pursuits of happiness than any other system throughout history. Now, we haven't always lived up to the ideals of our system, but we should build upon the accomplishments of our forefathers, not destroy their memories. We must bring about change by following the laws, not breaking them. We must support our police, not ambush them.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this costly resolution that would allow more fraud, waste, and abuse. No one condones fraud, especially when it is perpetrated by an institute of higher learning. Every student who is financially defrauded is entitled to relief and forgiveness, period. But we should make sure that we are helping those who have been defrauded. It is our job to do due diligence for the American taxpayer. The Trump administration has made this a priority, unlike the Obama administration. They used the rule to forgive as many student loans as they could. They would even target institutions they didn't like. That is partisan. It is costly to the taxpayer, and it is harmful to the student. That is why I support Secretary DeVos and President Trump. Their borrower defense rule takes taxpayers into account. After seeing the enormous price tag of $42 billion that the Obama rule created, President Trump and Secretary DeVos acted swiftly to take that burden off the backs of the taxpayers. I thank the President and Secretary DeVos.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of S. 3084, the Competitive Pay for Leaders in Veterans Healthcare Act. This legislation was introduced by my good friend and fellow Kansan, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Senator Jerry Moran. Our Nation's veterans deserve the best care possible. We must ensure that the VA can recruit and retain high-quality talented leaders. The Competitive Pay for Leaders in Veterans Healthcare Act is less about the leaders, actually, it is more about the veterans as the quality of their care is the direct result of the quality of the VA leadership. Mr. Speaker, that is why I support the Competitive Pay for Leaders in Veterans Healthcare Act and encourage my colleagues to do the same. No one fights harder for our veterans than President Trump. He has always made us a top priority, and I am glad that he and the VA Secretary will support this measure, and I look forward to its passage.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the good people of eastern Kansas. The war analogy has been thrown around a lot these days. As a man who has been to war and spent many years there, I can say that is not altogether inaccurate. In both cases, people are frightened. In both cases, people die. In both cases, people discover what it is they are made of. And in war, just like now, people need to come together. This bill is an example of having done just that. It is not perfect, but it is what we have got. It has got my vote. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3598, the Federally Requiring Earned Education-debt Discharges for Vets Act, or the FREED Vets Act. This bill would cancel student loan debt for some eligible veterans. H.R. 3598 would remove administrative obstacles preventing veterans from receiving student loan discharges. It modernizes the administration of Federal student loans, and it is a wonderful way to honor veterans. Most debate about student loans is highly contentious and very partisan, but this bill here and now is an example of Democrats and Republicans coming together for the benefit of American heroes. Last year, President Trump signed an executive order eliminating a process for disabled veterans to become eligible for loan forgiveness. Today, we are here to ensure that this effort becomes permanent. I am a veteran, and I have countless veteran friends, many of them disabled. I know this bill will matter. Our veterans could use this break after selfless service, most of whom fought in not one war, but two--or many, at least. The FREED Act is just one example of this body's commitment and America's commitment to our Nation's bravest. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the President for all he has done for our veterans. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Lamb) as well as the gentlewoman from Nevada (Mrs. Lee) for all of their hard work in making this piece of legislation a reality. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3598. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of S. 760, the Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act. This bill would provide more opportunities for servicemembers within apprenticeship programs that align with their skills and their background. As a veteran, one of the hardest things I did was transitioning back to the civilian world. I spent somewhere around 8\1/2\ years in conflict environments over the course of maybe 12 or 13, and it was easier to stay in Iraq or Afghanistan than it was to come back to the United States. Now, we have got an outstanding military. It is resilient and bright; many fought in two wars. They have excellent leadership and technical skills, skills that would be used to close the skills gap. Veterans are more likely to be underemployed than their nonveteran counterparts. This is not because they lack the appropriate skills, rather, they lack the clear path that helps them to transition from the military service to good-paying jobs. S. 760 ensures that veterans receive advanced standings in registered apprenticeship programs for their prior experience. This bill acknowledges the unique capabilities of veterans and simplifies the process for veterans transitioning from successful careers in the military to civilian life. We have a wealth of experience right here in our country with our veterans. Let's tap into that pool of intelligent and hardworking heroes. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I am ready to close. Mr. Speaker, S. 760 would help veterans transition to the civilian workforce and address our growing skills gaps that has led to 7 million unfilled jobs. This bill is a clear win for our country, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and also for his leadership. I rise today in support of the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act. In June of last year, ICE released a list of criminal illegal aliens that were allowed back into their sanctuary communities by local officials. One was deported four times before being arrested. How common is it for a criminal illegal alien released by the sanctuary jurisdiction to go on and commit further crimes? It is 40 to 80 percent. This is so wrong. We are a people of laws. This is unacceptable. My own district, the community of Lawrence, Kansas, is considering adopting a sanctuary city policy. Quite simply, these policies put our communities at risk. The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act would help victims of murder, rape, and all other sorts of felonies. I stand with those victims. I stand with the President. I stand with my colleagues. I stand for all law-abiding citizens. And I stand for justice.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) for yielding. With respect to my friend from Massachusetts, Representative Moulton, I was asked tough questions in the Middle East as well by my soldiers. I was asked: ``How do we kill our enemy?'' And I was asked, perhaps more jarring: ``How do we live and go home?'' We need two things on the front lines. We need speed, and we need lethality. This body has proven itself incapable of empowering our troops to act with speed and lethality. Operations are dangerous. When I went out doing combat and rebuilding operations on the front lines in two conflict environments, I was very noticeable, Mr. Speaker. I am a White guy. I am pretty upfront about that. But you better believe that they know I was a soft target. It is important for my own survivability that, should anything happen to me, they know that a Reaper drone is going to rain a Hellfire missile down on them. That is deterrence. That works far better than appeasement. I would also like to add that we talked a lot about the process. Supposedly, we are attacking the process and not reality. Well, the reality is that I have had friends of mine tortured to death, friends of mine I knew very well in conflict environments. It is in their spirit that I say this. This is awful, what we are doing. We need to empower our Commander in Chief. Despite your hatred of his policy, we need to empower him to act with decisiveness.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his leadership on this. This Congress is better because of it, and this Nation is better because of the gentleman's efforts. Mr. Speaker, I rise to be a voice for the voiceless. There is no effort more important than our protecting the sanctity of life. As a true political freshman, new to Congress and new to politics, I was so proud that the first bill I put my name on was to defund Planned Parenthood. Most recently I introduced H.R. 4800, the Pro-LIFE Act. My bill would close the ``valuable consideration'' loophole by prohibiting the sale of human fetal issues. These are unborn babies' hearts, livers, bones, and brains that are used in experiments. I urge my colleagues to please sign on to my Pro-LIFE Act, H.R. 4800. May God bless the unborn, and may God have mercy on us all.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, I spent somewhere around 8\1/2\ years in conflict environments and post-conflict environments between Iraq and Afghanistan. And all that time I knew many people who suffered at the hands of Qasem Soleimani. One in particular takes me back to 2006 or 2007. I was smoking and joking at the embassy in Baghdad. I was doing so with a friend--really a brother, a West Point classmate--who shortly thereafter went out on a mission and was ultimately killed in a complex attack perpetrated by Qasem Soleimani. I understand that action leads to risk, but inaction leads to more risk in the long run. And when searching for this divine strategy, look to what tactical operators know to be true, and that is, when we go throughout our work on the ground with the assault rifle in one hand, a sat phone in the other, we need to know that should anything happen to us, our President is going to have the freedom to rain fire down upon our enemies, and I am thankful for that.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, I was a political newcomer before this; and just like President Trump, perhaps like me, he was naive to think that this House, that in the people's House, everybody was true and just. That is not the case. Democrats weren't saddened by this sullen day. They weren't waiting for all of the evidence. This was always about politics because they loathe the President because he doesn't play by their beltway rules. I should have known. But the fact is Kansas is better, the U.S. is better, and the world is better because of Donald Trump.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of democracy and freedom for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the importance of protecting religious minorities in the region. In August, the Indian Government rescinded article 370 of their Constitution, repealing autonomy of the region; and, since then, it has been cut off through widespread communications blackouts. There have been curfews, and some 4,000 people have been detained, which includes children as young as 9 years old. There have been reported human rights abuses and deaths resulting from inaccessibility to healthcare. Madam Speaker, this situation cannot stand, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 745, which urges the Indian Government to uphold the democratic values upon which it was founded.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, today, I was in these official closed- door impeachment investigations. I use the word ``official'' loosely since the grounds upon which the Democrats are acting are shaky, at best. Access is being limited. I am a member of one of these committees that is allowed to be in there, but as I look around and see no more than perhaps a dozen or so Republicans, I think to myself that the entire country should see what the Democrats are up to, the entire world should. Soon that will happen because although I don't know what I am even allowed to share, because I don't understand these official formalities, I do know that I will tell the world everything that I can, and the truth will come out with time. It is not what is best for our constituency. We ought to be passing the USMCA. We ought to be ensuring our borders are safe. We ought to be fighting against surprise billing and exorbitant healthcare costs.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize a man that embodies everything it means to be a Kansan, and a Topekan. As the Topeka Capitol-Journal recently highlighted, John Dicus has made himself a fixture in the Topeka community. While some decide to take their talents elsewhere, John decided to use his talents to better his hometown. John has taken it upon himself to lead the charge of revitalizing our downtown area, most notably a $2.5 million dollar investment in the Evergy Plaza. John has taken action on his vision for Topeka and the city is better because of it. I know John shares the same sense of pride for his hometown as I do. Keep up the great work. He is making us all proud.

Mr. WATKINS

Mr. WATKINS. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in honor of Liam Magathan of Meriden, Kansas, whom I awarded last week the Silver Congressional Award Medal. Liam is a student at the University of Kansas. Through years of hard work, dedication, and personal sacrifice, Liam has achieved this prestigious honor. I want to let Liam know how much I look up to him and how the world would be a better place if more people were like him. Keep up the good work, my friend. You are bringing pride upon yourself, Kansas, and the United States of America.