[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 84 (Thursday, May 18, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2444-H2448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEBT CEILING CRISIS WAS AVOIDABLE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) is recognized
for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
General Leave
Mr. HILL. 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 topic of this Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs.
Kiggans), my friend.
Honoring Law Enforcement
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Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of
National Police Week. I am proud to stand with Virginia's police
officers, not just during National Police Week but each and every day.
Our brave men and women in blue selflessly confront danger to protect
us and our families, and I firmly believe it is only right to recognize
all they do to keep our communities safe.
Unfortunately, as Americans face a rise in violent crime across the
Nation, law enforcement officers have faced significant challenges and
grave threats that have jeopardized the safety of those sworn to
protect our communities.
These challenges range from increased violence against officers,
efforts to defund police departments, lagging technology, recruitment
and retention issues, and rising mental health concerns.
Last year, 246 law enforcement officers were tragically killed in the
line of duty. This year, there have already been 41 officers killed in
the line of duty serving their communities.
We must do more to support brave men and women of our Nation's law
enforcement who serve our communities with courage, dedication, and
strength. This week, I was proud to vote for several bills that showed
them that we have their backs just like they have ours.
Whether it is through legislation or simple actions, we must
prioritize appreciation of the men and women in blue who put themselves
in harm's way to protect their communities.
The people of Virginia's Second District do an excellent job of
showing our support for our men and women in law enforcement. This
week, members of my team attended the annual National Police Week
ceremony at the Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The
ceremony and memorial serve as a solemn reminder of what our police
officers put on the line every day when they wake up and go to work to
protect our community.
Mr. Speaker, please join me and the people of Virginia's Second
District in recognizing the brave men and women of our law enforcement
community for putting their lives on the line to keep us safe.
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for her
support of police and for her service representing the people of her
State.
Mr. Speaker, the United States is close to defaulting on its debt.
That would be the first time in our Nation's history.
The situation we face today was fully avoidable. The Biden
administration's reckless spending and economic illiteracy over the
past 2 years have propelled our debt crisis and driven inflation to a
40-year high.
The American people have directly felt the impact of this
administration's negligence toward an effective and practical economic
policy.
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It is well past time for our government to rein in reckless spending
and work together toward returning to a balanced budget, a concept that
both parties used to agree to strongly for decades.
Through the years, policy negotiations were a key part of many debt
ceiling agreements. Throughout our Nation's history, we have negotiated
spending deals and reforms many times by using the debt ceiling vote as
a constructive catalyst to action.
Yet, for over 100 days, despite promises to the contrary, President
Biden has refused to take this opportunity and willingly and
effectively negotiate with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Over the past 3 months, while the President has been unresponsive,
Speaker McCarthy has been hard at work, alongside House Republicans and
with support from our Republican colleagues in the Senate, to ensure
that we address this debt crisis in a timely, responsible manner.
We have done our part here in the House by passing the Limit, Save,
Grow Act, which responsibly raises the debt ceiling while addressing
the other key issues our Nation faces today.
Finally, in recent hours, with less than 2 weeks to go, President
Biden has surfaced and engaged in a conversation with Speaker McCarthy.
This is good news.
President Biden, join House Republicans in a sensible and responsible
agreement this week and avoid driving our Nation even further into
economic chaos.
President Al-Assad Readmitted to Arab League
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, recently Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was
invited back into the Arab League after 12 years of being in exile. I
can't tell you how incredibly frustrating and disappointing this is to
many, particularly the innocent people of Syria who have endured more
than a decade of war, murder, and torture.
Assad's readmittance to the Arab League sends the wrong signal. It
sends the signal to the rest of the world that his atrocious war crimes
against his own citizens over the past 12 years are acceptable.
A recent Reuters article had the headline ``Arabs Bring Syria's Assad
Back into Fold but Want Action on Drugs Trade.'' Well, that is rich,
because the only reason that there is an epidemic in the drug trade in
the Gulf and the region is because of Assad.
Assad turned to Russia and Iran to maintain his death machine, and
now the Captagon drug trade led by his cousins, led by his military, is
providing an independent source of funding for his regime while he
poisons his neighbors, takes their money and fuels terrorism in the
region; and yet he is invited back to the Arab League meeting. It is
preposterous.
My bill that passed in last year's National Defense Authorization Act
was called the CAPTAGON Act and requires the U.S. Government to develop
a multilateral and all-of-government approach to disrupting and
dismantling the production of the Captagon drug right in the heart of
Syria.
Recently the Treasury Department, along with our ally, the United
Kingdom, took steps to sanction key actors in Assad's inner circle who
are producing and trafficking Captagon. This is a good step, but it is
months late, Mr. Speaker.
It is in the right direction of disrupting and dismantling the
trafficking networks associated with this illicit drug, but it is just
a start, and it comes years after we know the deadly impact of Captagon
on the region, on families, but also the fueling of terror by Assad
through the billions of dollars transferred from that illicit
trafficking.
It is critical that governments across the globe continue to show
their support for the Syrian people by denouncing those who seek to
normalize relations with this repulsive regime. Granting Assad
admittance to the Arab League once again sends the opposite message. It
rewards barbaric behavior.
The United States Government has an obligation to sanction Assad in
our efforts to dismantle the Captagon drug trade and hold Assad
accountable for his war crimes. That is why I am pleased this week to
cosponsor the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia Subcommittee
Chairman Joe Wilson's new bill, H.R. 3202, the Assad Regime Anti-
Normalization Act.
This bill was passed this week unanimously in the House Foreign
Affairs Committee. Congress will act where this administration has
continuously failed to consistently do so. I look forward to supporting
this bill on the House floor and seeing it signed into law.
Commemorating 70-Year Alliance Between United States and Republic of
Korea
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 70th anniversary of
the alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea.
To commend this momentous occasion, Speaker McCarthy and Leader
McConnell invited Republic of Korea President Yoon to visit the House
Chamber and address Congress in a joint meeting.
From the ashes of the Korean conflict to now one of the world's
largest and most successful economies, the Republic of Korea is a
testament to America's dedication to support market economics and
democracy.
The successful alliance between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea
has maintained peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific
region for those past seven decades.
Now more than ever, it is critical that the U.S. continue to support
our ally in their efforts to protect their vibrant democracy and
prosperous economy from the daily threats from North Korea and the
growing aggression from the Chinese Communist Party.
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I thank President Yoon for his leadership, for the tenacity of the
Korean people to come from an authoritarian republic to truly a
democratic one and for building one of the top 10 largest economies in
the world. That is an amazing transformation over those seven decades.
Together, we will continue to promote freedom and prosperity in the
Indo-Pacific region and around the world.
Arkansas Tornado Relief Efforts
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the efforts of central
Arkansas during the recovery period after a devastating tornado hit our
district last month.
Our neighbors immediately began to work hand in hand, neighbor to
neighbor to rebuild our community. Many volunteered and worked
tirelessly to set up emergency shelters in our local schools and
churches to ensure those impacted by this severe storm had safe housing
in the wake of the tornado.
The response of our leaders at the State, county, and city level was
invaluable and to be commended. The incredible efforts and active
emergency response from Governor Sarah Sanders, Pulaski County Judge
Barry Hyde, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., Mayor Terry Hartwick of
North Little Rock, Mayor Jeff Elmore of Jacksonville, and Mayor Mary Jo
Heye-Townsell of Sherwood, and many, many others all saved lives and
accelerated the recovery process.
Not only did we witness their outstanding response and an outpouring
of local volunteers, but we saw the swift action of our first
responders and essential businesses.
Entergy Arkansas began repairs to the local power grid as soon as the
storms passed, and many of our linemen and -women worked countless
hours to restore power even when they themselves were affected. One
lineman I met with was in his bed at the time of the tornado, and the
roof was torn off his apartment. After a day off from that tragedy, he
was out there working 16 hours a day to connect the power to his
neighbors. Countless time was put in neighbor for neighbor.
Entergy Arkansas' corporate office also donated $50,000 to the
American Red Cross to be used toward tornado recovery efforts, with an
additional pledge of up to $50,000 matching employee donations.
The Arkansas Foodbank did an incredible job of delivering food,
water, and other necessary items throughout our communities to ensure
those affected by the storms were supported with necessary goods.
Additionally, our local restaurants and businesses all donated
hundreds of meals and supplies to those in need.
I thank our community for demonstrating generosity and thoughtfulness
during a time of great need. They simply demonstrated that core value
that we all take pride in as Arkansans and Americans.
Congratulating Frank Thomas on His Retirement
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the exceptional
career of Frank Thomas, who retired in March from Stephens, Inc., a
financial services firm headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Frank graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1976 and was the
first news director at KUAF, the local Razorback radio station.
He quickly rose from local radio to national politics, working for
former U.S. Senator David Pryor as his chief of staff.
After Frank's time in public service, he felt drawn home to Arkansas
and has worked for Stephens for the past 27 years.
Stephens has long believed that Arkansas is truly the land of
opportunity, and Stephens has invested in and benefited from its long
association with our State. In fact, Stephens helped a little-known
company called Walmart launch their initial public offering and become
the largest retailer in the world.
I thank Frank for his service and his lifelong commitment to Arkansas
and the Second Congressional District and our Nation. I wish Frank, his
wife, and his family many, many happy years ahead.
Congratulating Cathy Owen on Her Induction Into Arkansas Women's Hall
of Fame
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate my dear friend of
some five decades, Cathy Owen, on her induction into the Arkansas
Women's Hall of Fame.
Cathy is a trailblazer and role model for women in banking in
Arkansas, having served the banking community for over 50 years. She
has been with Eagle Bank for over 40 of those years in various roles,
most recently as chairwoman since 2012.
During her time at Eagle Bank, she has worked tirelessly to build the
bank into a large, respected community bank. Over the years, she and
her team have been dedicated to customer service and developing
outstanding products and services.
Outside of her achievements in the banking industry, she remains an
active leader in our community. She is a generous volunteer and
supporter of Baptist Health Foundation, Fifty for the Future, and the
North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, among many other endeavors.
I have had the privilege of working with Cathy in the industry for
decades during my time in banking. I am proud to call Cathy a friend. I
thank her for her many years of outstanding service in the community
and congratulate her on this well-deserved induction into the Arkansas
Women's Hall of Fame.
Command Sergeant Major Steven Veazey Retiring From Arkansas Army
National Guard
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend and a
true example of a leader, Command Sergeant Major Steven Veazey. I wish
him a happy and healthy retirement.
Command Sergeant Major Veazey, an Arkansas native, has been serving
in the Arkansas Army National Guard since 1979, and has retired after
44 years of service.
The positive impact he has made in the Arkansas Army National Guard
is undeniable, and he has set the standard for what it means to be a
noncommissioned officer.
Over the years, the command sergeant major deployed to Bosnia and
Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the
Bronze Star Medal with one oak-leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service
Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal with two oak-leaf clusters.
Steven exemplifies leadership, not only as a command sergeant major,
but as a leader in our community, serving as a member of the East Union
Missionary Baptist Church, The American Legion, and as past president
of the Sheridan Rotary Club.
His wife, Leanna, has been his steadfast partner for the past 43
years and the cornerstone of support. Together they have raised two
children, Tasha and Steven.
Over the past 9 years, I have been so grateful for his friendship and
leadership. I treasure our time together since my service in Congress,
from paying tribute to a young soldier or an airman for a job well done
or saluting those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
My best wishes, Steven, for your well-deserved retirement.
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Reopening
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the reopening of our
magnificent Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. The museum, located in
downtown Little Rock, reopened on April 22 after almost 4 years since
closing for renovation and expansion.
After years of planning, the museum has been reimagined into a
beautiful work of art itself. The architecture firm Studio Gang led the
design which preserves historic elements of the building but includes
other critical interesting and tasteful elements, making it into one of
the most influential museums in the country.
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The museum has much to offer from the visual and performing arts to
full art educational experiences. The goal is to create a cultural
space where our community can engage with a diverse portfolio of
artistic perspectives and come together to see the beautiful temporary
exhibitions and participate in the wonderful array of educational
courses.
I thank all involved for their efforts in making this renovation
possible and congratulate the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts for this new
chapter in their history in our State.
Congratulating Jim Keet
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend Jim
Keet on being named Arkansan of the Year.
Throughout his life, Jim has been an outstanding and active member of
our
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State civic affairs, and particularly in central Arkansas.
Jim served both in the Arkansas House of Representatives and in the
Arkansas State Senate in the 1990s.
In addition to his years of public service, he is one of our State's
most successful entrepreneurs. He is president of the Keet Management
Company and chairman of JTJ Restaurants, where he has operated 155
restaurants over the past five decades.
Beyond his success in business and politics, he has served on the
board of directors for 20 years at Easterseals Arkansas. Easterseals is
an organization that seeks to empower those with disabilities to have
fulfilling lives and to become active members of their communities.
As the founder of the Arkansan of the Year award while with
Easterseals Arkansas, this honor comes full circle now for Jim.
His tremendous work ethic and dedication to improving the lives of
Arkansans deserves this recognition. I am proud to call Jim a friend
and congratulate him on this exceptional honor.
Army National Guard International Sniper Competition
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Staff Sergeant
Benjamin Cotten and Staff Sergeant Allen Smith of the Arkansas Army
National Guard for winning this year's International Sniper
Competition.
This competition allows soldiers to display their abilities in a
rigorous environment designed to put their extensive training to the
test against 35 international teams.
The team, including New Mexico Army National Guard member Erik
Vargas, competed three days straight testing their shooting skills,
physical endurance, and problem solving as they took on a variety of
scenarios with multiple weapon systems.
Staff Sergeant Smith enlisted in 2003 and Staff Sergeant Cotten in
2006. Both have deployed to Iraq, and they have served as sniper team
leaders and marksmanship instructors with Army National Guard.
In addition to serving their country, they serve our communities as
firefighters. Their leadership abilities and mental fortitude earned
them this competition, and I am honored to add these men to my
recognition for this outstanding accomplishment across 35 very
competitive international teams.
Congratulating Mack McLarty
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend Mack
McLarty for receiving the Legacy of Leadership Award at the 35th annual
Arkansas Business of the Year ceremony.
Mr. McLarty is chairman of The McLarty Companies and was White House
chief of staff under President Bill Clinton. Mack also served on the
National Petroleum Council and the Council on Environmental Quality at
the request of President George H.W. Bush.
While chief to President Clinton, Mack advised on a wide range of
international and domestic issues, such as the 1993 deficit reduction
package, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and multiple trips as
it relates to attending the G7 economic summits.
Today, Mack is a respected senior adviser in both the public and
private sectors and a prominent public speaker who shares his thoughts
and experiences in the realm of U.S. trade and foreign policy.
Along with this recognition for his public service, Mr. McLarty was
awarded the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Medal and the
Center for the Study of the Presidency Distinguished Service Award.
I congratulate Mr. McLarty on this recognition and thank him for his
lifetime of public service at the national level and at home in
Arkansas.
Arkansas State Coding Competition
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Arkansas School
for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, Conway High School, eStem
Charter High School, Little Rock Central High School, and North Little
Rock Center for Excellence for advancing to the State coding
competition.
Out of more than 160 teams, these five are part of the 16 teams that
were selected to advance to the State competition.
The top three finishing teams will receive monetary awards of $2,000
for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place for
each member of the team.
The money will be placed in a 529 college savings plan account to
help those students with their journey toward earning a college degree.
I thank ARCodeKids for providing the grant money for the winning
teams, and I congratulate the students for qualifying for the State
competition. I wish them the best of luck.
Congratulating Steven Helmick
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Steven Helmick of
Donald R. Roberts Elementary in Little Rock for being named the 2023
Arkansas Elementary School Principal of the Year.
Mr. Helmick is known for his outgoing personality and willingness to
do whatever it takes to inspire his students, including running a mile
for each of the 168 fifth graders at his elementary school and camping
out on the school's roof.
Steven Helmick has turned Roberts elementary into one of the highest
achieving elementary schools in Arkansas receiving a grade of A from
the State education leadership.
I congratulate Mr. Helmick on his well-deserved award and the
outstanding work as principal of Roberts Elementary.
Recognizing Margaret Gaines
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Margaret Gaines who
celebrated her 100th birthday on February 19 of this year.
Margaret Gaines has been a resident of central Arkansas her entire
life. She grew up in Griffithville, Arkansas, and currently resides in
Searcy where she has lived for the past 62 years.
Throughout her life, Margaret has seen and remembers many historic
events, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and
President John F. Kennedy's visit to Arkansas to dedicate the Greers
Ferry Dam in Heber Springs.
Mrs. Gains believes the secret to her long life is plenty of exercise
from gardening, which she learned to do during the Great Depression.
She still grows a garden every year.
Mr. Speaker, I wish Margaret Gaines a very happy 100th birthday.
Recognizing James Chance
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the fire chief from
the Enola Area Fire Department, James Chance, who is preparing to
retire.
James is no ordinary fire chief. He is a volunteer who has been with
the Faulkner County department since 1973 and became chief in 1983.
When James first started at the Enola Area Fire Department, they had
a single brush truck to use as an engine, tanker, and rescue, and the
department did not have an ISO rating. Now, the department has three
stations, 11 fire trucks, and has an ISO rating of five.
According to his peers, James responded to every emergency, despite
how urgent or not it was. He spent two nights at 2 a.m. putting up
barricades on flooded roads during bad storms or responding to the
tenth false medical alert alarm in the middle of the night.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Chance for over 50 years of selfless service
to the citizens of Faulkner County, and I congratulate him on his
retirement.
International Paper Company
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate 125 years of the
International Paper Company.
International Paper, IP, was founded in January 1898, and they
celebrated their 125th anniversary in January--an incredible milestone
in our Nation.
Their company is committed to providing essential products that
people depend on, including being one of the world's largest producers
of fiber-based products.
Essential paper and paper products are important in our everyday
lives, ensuring goods are protected and keeping consumers safe. They
are a driver of local economic development in our great State. There
are over 550 IP employees and 6 facilities throughout Arkansas, 150 of
which work at the Conway Graphics Plant.
I congratulate International Paper for their 125 years of service,
and I look forward to their continued impact on Arkansas and around the
world.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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