[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 15821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO CHAIRMAN HAL ROGERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Jenkins) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to a dear colleague, mentor, and friend as he is concluding his 
6 years as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
  I have had the honor and pleasure of serving with Chairman Hal Rogers 
for the last 2 years. Since day one of his chairmanship, he has been 
the driving force to revive the appropriations process. Anyone who 
knows Chairman Rogers, knows his top priority is regular order.
  During his chairmanship, he has managed 140 appropriations bills on 
the floor, and managed more than 600 important oversight and budget 
hearings and markups. He has worked every day to ensure that the 
taxpayers' dollars are being used wisely and responsibly.
  He has stopped wasteful spending, saving the country billions of 
dollars. He has also invested in higher priority programs, those that 
help keep our Nation on the right track, keep us safe, keep us secure, 
fight against drug abuse, and promote critical rural infrastructure 
needs. He has never lost sight of his home in Kentucky and the people 
he represents in Congress. Their priorities are his priorities.
  I know this well because my district is right next door. We are only 
separated by the Tug Fork River, a small, narrow body of water that 
goes through the hills of Appalachia. Chairman Rogers and I share the 
good people of Appalachia. We know the greatness of our people. We know 
how hardworking they are. It is the coal miners, it is the farmers, it 
is the factory workers, it is the teachers, it is the backbone of 
America we both have the honor of representing.
  I have been able to see firsthand Chairman Rogers' commitment to the 
people of Kentucky, his fight for the coal miners and retirees, his 
fight of the opioid crisis that is devastating communities throughout 
our region and this country, his support for education, and his 
leadership in creating the SOAR program, shaping our Appalachian 
region.
  Chairman Rogers has left an indelible mark as chairman of the House 
Appropriations Committee. We thank him for his leadership in that role 
over these past 6 years. We have a better Appropriations Committee 
because of it and a better institution here in the House of 
Representatives, thanks to the leadership of Chairman Hal Rogers.
  I ask my fellow Members to join me in thanking him for his service as 
chairman. I am honored to look forward to working with him in his 
continuing capacity here in the House of Representatives.
  Thank you, Chairman Rogers.

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