of it, i'm not karling with you. doesn't change the way i think or vote. i think using private corporations for detention centers is a mistake. i think what we are seeing with them is in human treatment of people. we need to bring this to an end. that's the way i vote, that's the way i feel. they may have written me a check but it doesn't change the way i feel or my position on the issue. we are going through this period now debating whether or not there is an immigration crisis on our southern border. interestingly enough, when we had our intelligence community make a presentation to congress two weeks ago, not one of them identified the southern border as a security issue for the united states. >> we're going to leave the last few minutes of this discussion, you can can watch this and and all of our grams online at c-span.org. the u.s. house of representatives is about to gavel back in. and a reminder the president will be delivering his state of the union speech tonight to a

joint session of congress at 9:00 p.m. eastern. our coverage starts at 8:00. take you live now to the floor of the house. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the prayer will be offered by our chaplain, father conroy. chaplain conroy: let us pray. loving god, thank you for giving us another day. the people's house prepares to welcome the president of the united states this day, and other governmental, judicial, and military leadership of our nation. the world watches as america's great experiment in civilian self-government is in high relief. may all who populate these hallways this day be possessed of good will and a sheared commitment to guarantee the freedoms and responsibilities inspired by the soaring rhetoric and subsequent actions of our

american ancestors. may all that is said and done in this chamber today be to the benefit of our nation and the glory of your holy name, amen. the speaker pro tempore: the chair has examined the journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1, the journal stands approved. the pledge of allegiance will be led by the gentleman from california, mr. lamalfa. mr. lamalfa: i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with iberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will entertain requests for one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the

gentleman from south carolina seek recognition? mr. wilson: to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. wilson: mr. speaker, the people of venezuela have taken to the streets to nand an end to 20 years of dictatorship and repression. i am grateful that president donald trump is supporting the democratic aspirations of the venezuelan people. the people of venezuela deserve to prosper. they are fortunate to hold the world's largest supply of crud oil. decades of socialist corruption and mismanagement first under hugo chavez and then maduro have impoverished venezuela. then came the sham 2018 presidential elections. that is why the national asemipresident implemented their constitution by declaring himself interim president and calling for new elections. we must continue to support hope in venezuela. free and fair elections must be held. the people of venezuela deserve freedom and democracy. in conclusion, god bless our

troops. we will never forget september 11 and the global war on terrorism. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition? without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, today i rise to honor the memory of john lee, a resident of new jersey's seventh district who passed away on january 25 after waging a courageous battle with cancer. mr. lee immigrated to america in 1987 and worked day and night to build a better life for himself and his family. in 000 he became a citizen, and like many immigrants he understood the meaning of civic duty and the importance of a single person's vote better than many of us whose families have been here for generations. so when he was faced with cancer diagnosis, his first thoughts was not to sink into despair, he simply asked,

what's next? as his diagnosis progressed, mr. lee began to understand the pressing need for legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions. and the question of what's next was answered. he spent his remaining time fighting to help make our health care system more just and to make america as he put it, a nation of us not of me. today i am truly honored to be joined at the state of the union by his siblings. madam speaker, john lee has already helped to shape our understanding of what must be done to make health care a human right for all americans. mr. malinowski: may his legacy be -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentleman from arkansas seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to honor the retirement of a

pillar of my community. an exemplary businessman, dedicated public servant, dear friend, and all around great american, dick trammell of rogers, arkansas. most know him as mr. northwest arkansas. no one i know of has loved, served, and promoted northwest arkansas more than dick. a native of pocahontas arkansas, dick was recruited to the northwest part of our state by wal-mart founder sam walton. since moving to the area in 1975, he's been the area's most avid cheerleader. it came natural for dick who was a university of arkansas cheerleader in the 1950's. mr. womack: nothing in oiler area hasn't happened in 40-plus years that doesn't have his fingerprint on it. he's been a a mainstay in rotary international, higher education, program serving our youth, mercy hospital, and dozens of other sharetible

causes. -- charitable causes. congratulations on a terrific career and life serving your fellow man. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? >> unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. lamalfa: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to congratulate acting secretary david bernhardt for being nominated to serve as the next secretary of the department of interior. president trump announced this news on monday after acting secretary burnhart has led the department in a temporary capacity since december. i applaud this decision by the president. he has chosen a nominee that brings a strong background of industry experience and expertise to the table. i have worked with the department to improve stewardship of our public lands, to increase water storage, and improve forest management policies in california, as well as the west to prevent more wildfire

damage. i know that will continue under the leadership of secretary burnhart as it has since he led the department. intend to invite him to my district to see firsthand the issues we face with our forests and pub lk lands, including ongoing campfire cleanup in pair days, as well as the carr fire in reading from last summer, and the conditions that helped create these fires to begin with. until then, congratulations, and i urge the sentence to quickly move on the confirmation process. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? mr. thompson: mr. speaker request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. thompson: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i rise today just hours before our 45th president, donald trump, will deliver the state of the union address. members of congress and guest also fill this chamber tonight to hear the president speak

about a host of issues impacting america from economic growth to trade deals and infrastructure investments to immigration reform. i look forward to hearing about the administration's successes and the plans for foot ture. i know that we all want to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions to the challenges before us. mr. speaker, many distinguished guests will be here tonight. each with a story to tell and each representing the very best of america. i will host mr. bill jones, president of penn united technologies. headquartered in cab bot, pennsylvania, butler county. they provide high quality, high precision manufacturing solutions in various markets, employs more than 500 individuals. since 1971, they have provided quality products and established itself as an industry leader. it is an honor to have mr. jones here this evening. i look forward to the president's address. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for

what purpose does the gentleman from mississippi seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, today i would just like to give thanks to be able to be here at this state of the union. to hear about what our wonderful nation is doing. such an honor to be here and to have the opportunity to be present during one of these state of the unions. but, mr. speaker, most importantly i want to recognize the men and women who are down range today serving this great nation and can't be here even probably will never be afforded the opportunity to stand here in this great house and hear the state of the union. without those men and women in uniform who defend this nation every day, this nation cannot exist. because of them, we will always be the greatest nation on the face of the earth. thank you, god bless you. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house a communication.

the clerk: the honorable the speaker, house of representatives. madam, pursuant to the permission granted in clause 2-h of rule 2 of the rules of the u.s. house of representatives, the clerk received the following message from the secretary of the senate on february 5, 2019, at 9:28 a.m. that the senate agreed to without amendment house concurrent resolution 9. with best wishes, i am, signed sincerely, karen l. haas. the speaker pro tempore: the chair announces the speaker's appointment pursuant to 22 u.s.c. 3003 and the order of the house of january 3, 2019, of the following member on the part of the house to the commission on security and cooperation in europe. e clerk: mr. hastings of florida, chair. the speaker pro tempore: after consultation among the speaker and the majority and minority leaders, and with the consent, the chair announces that when the two houses meet tonight in joint session to hear an

address by the president of the united states, only the doors immediately opposite the speaker and those immediately to his left and right will be opened. no one will be allowed on the floor of the house who does not have the privilege of the floor of the house. due to the large attendance that is anticipated, the rule regarding the privilege of the floor must be strictly enforced. children of members will not be permitted on the floor. the cooperation of all members is requested. the practice of reserving seats prior to the joint session by placing placards or personal items will not be allowed. chamber security may remove these items from the seats. members may reserve their seats only by physical presence following the security sweep of the chamber. all members are reminded to refrain from engaging in still photography, audio, or video recording in the chamber. take being unofficial photograph detracts from the dignity of the proceedings and presents security and privacy challenges for the house.

pursuant to clause 12-a of rule 1, the chair declares the house in recess until approximately 8:35 p.m. for the purpose of receiving in joint sessi if there's a mountain, we climb it. if there's a frontier, we cross it. if there's a challenge, we tame

it. if there's an opportunity we seize it. so let's begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong. [applause] >> the state of the union, postponed because of the government shutdown, will take place tonight. watch as president trump delivers his state of the union address live from the house chamber beginning at 9:00 p.m. eastern on c-span, followed by the democratic response by former georgia gubernatorial candidate stacey abrams. the state of the union, live tonight at 9:00 eastern on c-span, c-span.org, or listen ith the free c-span radio app. >> there are nearly 100 now faces in congress following the mid-term elections. three are from tennessee, all republicans. voters in the second district elected tim