higgins, you are recognized for five minutes. chairman and mr. thank you ladies and gentlemen for your service to the country. i have constant communication with the veterans i serve in louisiana in the primary complaint regarding the appeals iscess in new orleans appeals from 2014 and 2015, certainly hundreds of backlog of appeals cases. most of the hearings, there is a requirement for the veteran to attend the hearing and these guys have transportation problems. they have deteriorating medical conditions and in some cases, mental challenges, certainly financial and transportation challenges. their hearing dates get moved or shifted and it's hard enough for them to get to their cboc or the a medical facility where in we have invested tremendous amounts of the people's treasure in order to completely modernize these facilities. in my district, i have two new state-of-the-art technology. as a veteran myself, i don't understand why veteran would require -- would be required to drive 250 miles to hearing when it's hard enough to get them 20 miles to

for the air defense who will now have navy assets in support of ground operations, i think it was the higgins and the other platforms and we had to build that architecture and no one ever provided a blueprint to any of the operators until i got it and said where's this been? there is a huge pack. if you look at failings, joint exercises and that comes back to my earlier comments, and if i could be a little clearer is how do you get that architecture in the hands of the war fighter so they could see product? that's how you get success with people continually reinforce you. if you don't do that that's where you struggle which comes back to authority like everything else. that's my capsule of success and failure in that regard. >> that's very jaded probably from personal experiences. >> it was the same thing in korea when i supported that as well and some of that is throat-com. thanks for all those answers. i'll get one more question and i'll open up to the audience here. since the topic is a missile defense and it will be obvious to everybody now and we'll move on to a military assignment and y

higgins: mr. speaker, this generous nation has a long tradition of welcoming those seeking refuge and a better life in america. america is, in fact, a nation of immigrants. for generations immigrants and refugees, my ancestors included, have contributed to a diverse and strong nation built on the foundation that through hard work anything is possible. the state department recently announced plans to cut the very programs to provide refugees with the tools toward economic independence, self-sufficiency, and success. it is a counterproductive move by the administration that cites the economy as a priority. refugees are helping revise older communities like the buffalo niagara region, increasing our population, contributing to a dedicated work force, and bringing new life quality and economic life back to neighborhoods like buffalo's west side. we're calling on secretary pompeo to immediately reverse any plans to cut resettlement agencies and affirm this nation's commitment to the american dream. i y

find the right henry higgins, she'll be ready for a ball in no time. >> leave it to you to put the pig back in pygmalion. >> kelsey grammar played pomposity like nobody you've ever seen and got huge laughs. >> don't consider a move until my fingers have completely cleared the piece. >> what's taking so long? >> but i am analyzing my options unlike your wing-it approach i like to plan a strategy, like a general leading his troops into battle. >> checkmate, schwarzkopf. >> i think probably "frasier" stands as the single most successful spinoff, at least in the history of sitcoms. >> and the emmy goes to -- >> and the emmy goes to -- >> >> "frasier." >> "frasier." >> "frasier." >> we were lightning hot and it was critical for us to be leading the way, not just following. ♪ >> "friends" is about that time in your life when your friends are your family. >> ow! >> when david crane and i lived in new york we were part of a group of six people. we were all attached at the hip. we went everywhere together and celebrated everything together. and there's that period where you're looking to be o

higgins you are recognized for five minutes. >> thank you mr. chairman. thank you ladies and gentlemen for your service to our country. mr. mclenachen thank you for your service as an army veteran. i have constant communication with the veterans that i served in south louisiana and their primary complaint regarding the process out of new orleans as they are looking at appeals from 2014 in 2015, certainly hundreds of back loved appeals cases. most of the hearings there is a requirement for veterans here in new orleans. these guys have a transportation problem. if they curated medical conditions and in some cases mental challenges certainly financial and transportation challenges. their hearing dates get moved and shifted and it's hard enough for them to get to their va medical facility. wherein we have invested tremendous amounts of people's treasure in order to completely modernized these facilities but in my district i have two brand-new state-of-the-art technology. i don't understand as a veteran myself why a veteran would be required to drive 250 miles

and there are two people at least who signed this letter, steve lynch from south boston, brian higgins from new york who said forget it. i signed the letter. what happened? everything you're saying about these folks running on the idea, why is it translated into so little? >> well, over 35 people who voted against her in the caucus vote, and look, i think it's people who are voting their conscience. they are voting their district. they are voting for change and we don't know what that number is but that's -- i feel compelled to vote my district and to vote what my people want. look, as i said, the candidates that are generating the most energy for us as democrats are the ones that need a change and the democrats are a hard sell in the midwest. we're a hard sell in the deep south. and we've got to come up with new platforms, no ideas, modernizing the government, m modizimo modernizing the party to do it. they won based on campaigning for change saying they would vote for new leadership. i feel we have an obligation to the people. it's basically check against the establishment democrats

he brought those higgins boats into normandy personally. he was one of the guys that drove them in as one of the guys of the boats. and he was there on the landing, and he never, ever told us. and we found out a couple of years before he died. and that is so much like those guys. they don't brag. and i think that's bob dole. and when i saw him stand up the other day i said, bob, you've been through it all those years putting up with your handicap and putting up with the attacks from george herbert walker bush, that you were a straddler, that you didn't have the guts to stand up on issues. and here he was in the capitol of the united states standing on his feet saluting this guy even though they were at war politically. and it's a real thing, and i love the real thing. >> that's who we have been as a country. adams and jefferson fought perhaps the ugliest political campaign in american history in 1800, and they became dear friends. both of them died on the morning of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence. and

the last time you saw a john grisham movie or mary higgins clark. those have modern to television as you see with my friend michael connellly. those things noter no movies anymore. if you don't a have special effects and a cape you won't see it. those who love this genre are trying to find great partners. >> host: this tweet from ian says who are your biggest influences when its comes to writing, in particular comic books? >> the comic books, they are my biggest writing influences. my favorite writer-0 all-tile it alan moore, who wrote watchman and other things but watchman is the pinnacle of what any book can accomplish. the book dish used re-read if every year. just actually fished my re-reading, isn't read nit three. >> and i just finish elfed. the one book i can rereads. i hoover nell gamon, and tom king, what he i doing, jeff johns, i can name them. mark miller, doing wonderful things, jason aaron, who i think are all incredible writers. and even more artists out there i think, my college room may was jed winnik, a great writer -- used to do co

where was the last time you saw a mary higgins clark movie? john gish sham? as you see with my friend michael connolly doing the great bosh series, those things are not in movies anymore. if you don't have special effects and a cape, you're not going to see it in a movie. those of us who love this world and love this genre are trying to find great partners who will do that long form story job telling. >> host: and this tweet from ian says who are your biggest influences when it comes to writing, in particular comic books that you've worked on? >> guest: yeah, the comic books, and they are my biggest writing influences. bar nobody, it's alan moore. alan moore is this british writer who wrote watchmen, vendetta and many other things. but watchmen, to me, is the pinnacle of what any book can accomplish. it is the book -- i used to reread it every single year. i just actually finished my rereading. i hadn't read it in about three years. it's the one book i can go back to and reread it every time. i love neil, i love brian, i love tom king and what he's doing, my

higgins: on december 14, a lone gunman armed with an assault weapon killed 27 people, including 20 kids between the ages of 6 and 7 years old. five minutes, one shooter, 27 people dead. many of the kids had several bullet wounds in their bodies when they were recovered. in the years since -- in the years since that tragedy, we have seen high-powered assault weapon attacks on schools, synagogues, nightclubs, churches, concerts and in our neighborhoods. with each horrific attack, congress responds with a moment of silence. we've had 50 moments of silence since sandy hook. silence is not a response. we need rational voices, congressional hearings and a meaningful gun safety laws -- and meaningful gun safety laws now. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognize rigs? mr. wilson: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my wrarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. wilson: an extraordinary tribute to george h.w. bush wa