Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the more than 1,500 youth from across America visiting our Nation's capital this week to participate in the 48th annual Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. These high school juniors and seniors are attending meetings with their Senators and Representatives, watching floor action from the respective galleries, and visiting museums and memorials dedicated to our country's rich past.

I personally look forward to meeting with the 18 participating students from Nebraska and urge my colleagues to take time this week to meet with youth from their States as well. These students are part of a great tradition. Every June, for the past 48 years, more than 50,000 young citizens and future leaders have come to Washington, D.C., with the help of their electric cooperatives. Electric Cooperative Youth Tour alumni are now engaged at many levels of government as well.

I want to once again applaud these young people and thank participating electric cooperatives and rural electric associations for sponsoring these programs to instill lessons of citizenship in the next generation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the budget, contrasting the Republican plan, which would actually strengthen and extend Medicare, and the President's plan that would actually maybe allow Medicare to go bankrupt only 2 years later than it would otherwise.

One particular provision in the President's budget, a cut in reimbursement to critical access hospitals, would endanger access to nearby hospital care for millions of seniors, including those served by the 48 critical access facilities in Nebraska's Third District.

However, the Republican budget provides an alternative which ensures access to care without relying on arbitrary cuts. Our plan would also focus future Federal support on the sick and poor, while ensuring no change for those at or near retirement.

Madam Speaker, inaction now will only guarantee Medicare is more problematic in future years. We must act now to ensure it remains solvent for those who depend on it most.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two distinguished Nebraskans, Duane and Patricia Ohlrich of Columbus. Their company, Industrial Systems & Supply, Inc., was named the Nebraska Small Business of the Year for 2012 by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Small businesses like theirs are the engine of our economy. Over their more than 20 years in business together, Duane and Patricia built their company from $391,000 in sales to nearly $6 million in 2011. All the while, they successfully expanded their business into additional products to account for the changing economic climate.

Duane and Patricia's success didn't just stop with their business-- they also gave back to their community. Among the many examples of their generosity was their collaboration with other Columbus area small businesses to provide seed money for Central Community College's entrepreneurship program, which offers workshops, seminars and other events to educate and promote business ownership.

The success the Ohlrich's have earned through their hard work and perseverance is what the American Dream is all about. It is stories like theirs which make both Nebraska and our nation strong and proud. I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating Duane and Patricia for their achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Nebraskan who has made the record books, Curt Tomasevicz. Curt was part of the USA's bobsledding team which consisted of pilot Steven Holcomb, and pushers Justin Olsen and Steven Langton. Together they won the International Bobsledding and Tobogganing Federation World Championships in Lake Placid, NY over the weekend.

Thanks in no small part to Curt's efforts, the U.S. claimed five medals, including four gold, to mark the most successful World Championship showing in the history of the program. The American team validated its reputation as the fastest push team in the world by dominating off the block and reaching speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour.

Curt is no stranger to success. In 2010, he won a gold medal at the Vancouver Olympic Games and was also a 2003 Academic-All Big XII selection on the University of Nebraska football team.

Curt embodies the Nebraska spirit. He remains committed to working hard, helping his teammates, and never quitting. Curt has made Shelby, Polk County, and the State of Nebraska proud with his character, work ethic, and passion for sport.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating Curt and his teammates for their historic achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, with reservations, to support H.R. 3630, the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation of 2011.

Benefits paid out by Social Security now exceed payroll taxes collected, and with no change the trust funds will run out by 2035. While this conference report would continue our policy of replacing uncollected payroll taxes with funds from general revenue, the $93 billion cost for ten months of this policy makes clear we cannot afford to continue it for the long term. Our focus on Social Security should be reforming it to ensure its viability for those who have paid in, not infusing it with hundreds of billions of additional dollars we don't have.

However, H.R. 3630 allows Americans to continue to keep more of their paychecks for the rest of the year in this delicate economy. This bill also contains important reforms to Medicare and unemployment insurance and ensures this new, current spending is paid for. We cannot indefinitely pay out 99 weeks of unemployment benefits, and this bill begins phasing out these extended benefits. While I would prefer we permanently reform Medicare, this conference report ensures seniors have access to care through the end of the year by addressing physician reimbursement rates and other payment issues while laying the groundwork for permanent payment reform. We also reform federal employee benefits and will expand access to wireless broadband through this bill. These are important accomplishments worthy of support.

Because of these achievements, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3630. I also ask we continue our work to permanently reform both the tax code and our entitlement programs to provide Americans the long- term certainty they need, rather than continuing our reliance on piecemeal legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an icon of the Eastern Nebraska business community, Henry Trysla. I was saddened to learn this week he had passed away at the age of 82. Henry's life was linked with Nebraska newspapers for more than 50 years. Beginning as a young reporter and columnist at the South Sioux City Star, he rose through the ranks to become the paper's editor and then a contributing writer after his retirement.

Henry served as president of the Nebraska Press Association which bestowed on him its highest honor, Master Editor-Publisher. A Nebraska Press Association Hall of Fame inductee, Henry led the South Sioux City Star to nine community service awards.

Henry's accomplishments did not stop with his professional life. He was also a devoted family man and community leader. He and Margaret, his wife of 52 years, raised five children and have twelve grandchildren. Henry was active in the South Sioux City community, holding a variety of offices in service organizations and receiving numerous awards, including the Optimist Club Service to Youth Award. He was also a founding member of the board of directors of Dakota County State Bank, and he was instrumental in creating a park along the Missouri River.

Henry lived life to its fullest and is an example to us all. He leaves behind a loving family, a grateful community, and a lasting journalistic legacy. Henry was a very special Nebraskan who will be truly missed. May his memory be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 947 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Stated against:

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today about the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny, or the REINS, Act.

This bill, which I have cosponsored, restores accountability to the regulatory process by requiring an up-or-down vote in Congress and the President's signature on any new major rule before it is enforced on the American people.

Over-regulation, Mr. Speaker, is devastating our economy and hindering job growth. Of the current administration's new regulations, 200 are expected to cost more than $100 million each. Seven of those new regulations, however, will cost the economy more than $1 billion each. At the current pace, the current regulatory burden for 2011 alone will exceed $105 billion.

And the Federal Government has created more than 81.9 million hours' worth of paperwork this year alone, costing employers $80 billion just in compliance. It's no wonder a recent Gallup Poll found small business owners citing ``complying with government regulations'' as ``the most important problem'' they face.

Nebraskans have not been immune to the reams of red tape being handed down by Federal regulators. Just yesterday it was reported the city of Grand Island, Nebraska, population 51,000, will be saddled with a $3.2 million compliance cost due to a new Federal emissions regulation. This EPA Cross-State Air Pollution Rule was finalized June 1 and will be enforced January 1.

But this is only one example. There are additional, even more costly rules and unworkable timelines coming down the pike, all of which mean a much longer winter for Americans struggling with high energy costs.

But it doesn't stop there. Recently, the Department of Labor proposed a misguided rule which would restrict youth involvement in agriculture work. Yes, Mr. Speaker, anything from milking cows and feeding calves to hauling and detassling corn would come under fire under the Department's current rule.

Everyone agrees the safety of these young people and workers everywhere is of the utmost importance; but by allowing such heavy- handed thoughtless regulation, we're greatly restricting opportunities for rural youth. These jobs, often seasonal, teach young people responsibility and the value of hard work; and they're able to earn a little spending money in the process.

I'm also a proud cosponsor of the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011, H.R. 1633, which the House is slated to consider later this week. This bill would prevent the EPA from regulating farm dust, or the type of dust which naturally occurs in rural areas.

Farmers and ranchers already are subject to strict Federal and State regulations to control dust. It makes no sense for the EPA to impose costlier requirements on top of the existing standards. While the EPA has backed off without legislative action, nothing certainly prohibits the agency from regulating farm dust in the future.

During a time of economic hardship, keeping the door open for additional regulatory overreach is not the answer. Actually, I'm often reminded of a meeting I had in southeastern Nebraska with representatives from a Federal agency, good people they are. One of them said it had been more than 20 years since he'd ridden on a gravel road.

For me, this meeting certainly emphasized the disconnect between Washington and rural America. These are only a few examples of the regulatory burden and uncertainty facing Nebraskans who recognize economic growth ultimately depends on job creators, not regulators.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support commonsense regulatory reforms like the REINS Act.

This is yet another step towards increased accountability, improving the regulatory process, and providing certainty for job creators in my home State of Nebraska and in States all across this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of two special Nebraskans, Eugene Bargman and his late wife Caroline. This year, Eugene and Caroline will be honored with the Nebraska Farm Bureau's highest honor, the Silver Eagle Award. Eugene and Caroline are widely respected for their commitment to God, country, community and agriculture.

They were an effective team during their 60 years together. After marrying in January 1946, Eugene completed his service in the Air Force and taught ``on the farm'' night classes in agriculture to military veterans. The Bargmans were early adopters of conservation technology on their diversified farm near Pickrell, where they raised their five children. They were co-operators for on-farm studies with state and federal agencies and both were leaders in Gage County Farm Bureau. Eugene and Caroline testified numerous times before local governing boards and the Nebraska Legislature on land use and conservation issues.

Eugene served as president of the county fair board and the Federal Land Bank board of directors. He also served on agricultural advisory boards for numerous Nebraska governors, U.S. Senators and Members of Congress. Caroline was a member of the Nebraska Soybean and Grain Sorghum boards and the first U.S. Soybean Board.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Eugene and Caroline Bargman for their many great contributions to agriculture and the State of Nebraska. As recipients of the Silver Eagle Award, they will be forever appreciated and remembered.

I stand in strong support of this trade agreement that will open up U.S. production to over 40 million consumers close to our shores.

While the national economic and strategic impact of the Colombia agreement is very important, obviously the increased marketing opportunity for Nebraska is tremendous as well. Specifically for agriculture, the agreement with Colombia will lead to gains for Nebraska's major commodities, such as soybeans and wheat.

Currently, all U.S. ag exports to Colombia face tariffs. Upon implementation of the agreement, three-quarters of Colombia's tariff lines will become duty free for U.S. exports. Specifically, Colombia places an 80 percent tariff on U.S. beef imports today, making it one of the highest tariffs on U.S. beef in the world. This agreement changes that.

Colombia has also lifted unscientific restrictions. Colombia will recognize the equivalence of the U.S. food safety system for meat, poultry, and processed foods--a significant victory for U.S. livestock producers. I want to make sure Nebraska products and producers make the most of the opportunities provided by international sales to increased exports.

Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to be here, and certainly I appreciate my colleague from California talking about agriculture. And it certainly speaks to the diversity of American agriculture when he listed so many products, and I don't think a single one of those that you listed is actually grown in Nebraska, and obviously we produce a lot of agriculture products in Nebraska, and we know what it's like to even produce more than we consume in our State alone. California might be slightly different, but we know that we've got efficient production all across America.

So I want to take just a moment to discuss the impact and benefits of trade agreements to Nebraska and certainly the national economy. As our economy continues to struggle, we should obviously be exploring every avenue to create businesses and create new jobs. Markets around the world present tremendous opportunity because of their size, scope, and rate of growth. And we've heard a lot of numbers tossed around this evening, but we know that beyond the U.S. lies 73 percent of the world's purchasing power, 87 percent of its economic growth, and 95 percent of the world's consumers.

While the national economic impact of trade is very important, the increased marketing opportunity for Nebraska is obviously tremendous as well. For Nebraska, this means the three trade agreements will increase exports by more than $123 million per year. That's every year. Specifically for agriculture, the agreements with Panama, Colombia, and South Korea would lead to gains for Nebraska's major agriculture commodities, including beef, pork, soybeans and corn.

New markets create opportunities for farmers and ranchers along with the food processors, agri-businesses, transportation workers, and all the sales and related professionals who support the agriculture sector.

I want to make sure Nebraska products and producers make the most of opportunities provided by international sales and to increase exports. There's been enough delay. We certainly know that. And our market share in Colombia has already declined because of inaction. The debate is no longer simply about generating potential export gains, but also how to prevent the loss of existing export markets.

Thank you again. I appreciate this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Little League baseball team from Kearney, Nebraska. This team, with 13 talented young men and 3 patient coaches from the Third District of Nebraska, recently excelled in tournament competition and made history along the way.

Managed by Mike Koski with help from assistant coaches Gary Barth and Doug Holtmeier, the Kearney Little League team became the first Nebraska team in Little League history to compete in a regional championship game. With their second place finish in the 2011 Midwest Regional Tournament, the boys from Kearney finished the post-season with 8 wins and 4 losses, scoring 99 runs and allowing just 41 runs in 65 innings of play.

The skilled members on the 2011 Kearney Little League baseball team were Brant Barth, Ben Dinkel, Jack Herges, Carter Hollis, Brady Holtmeier, John Husmann, Ryan Koski, Tyler Mestl, Cam Moore, Eric Pacheco, Jared Wegner, Christian Westesen, and Creighton Westesen.

The Kearney Little League team embodied the Nebraska spirit both on and off the field. The team was committed to working hard, playing together as a team, and never quitting. These young men made the city of Kearney, Buffalo County, and the state of Nebraska proud with their character, sportsmanship, and passion for the game.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the exceptional talent and dedication of the Kearney Little League baseball team.

Mr. Speaker, today I join Senator Ben Nelson and Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska in paying tribute to the National Park Service, which will be celebrating its 95th anniversary on August 25, 2011.

The National Park Service currently administers 394 units across 49 states and U.S. territories, including five National Park Service units in our home State of Nebraska. These units consist of the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Homestead National Monument of America, Missouri National Recreational River, Niobrara National Scenic River, and Scotts Bluff National Monument. In addition, the National Park Service administers five National Historic Trails, including the California, Oregon, Pony Express, Mormon, and Lewis and Clark.

National Park areas generate $12 billion in tourism dollars to local economies, creating 247,000 private-sector jobs. Within Nebraska, National Park Service units generate approximately $8.8 million in tourism dollars and create approximately 170 private-sector jobs. And in western Nebraska, Agate Fossil Beds and Scotts Bluff Monuments, along with the Chimney Rock National Historic Site, which is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service, generate close to $3 million in tourism dollars and create 90 private-sector jobs.

Nebraska has been supportive of the mission of the National Park Service even before the agency existed. In fact, in 1914, two years before the National Park Service was created, citizens in the Scottsbluff/Gering area sought to get a National Park or Monument established. Prominent local champions included elected officials and newspaper editor, A.B. Wood.

Scotts Bluff National Monument is named for a fur trapper by the name of Hiram Scott who was wounded and deserted by his companions in 1828. He gained immortality by making his way to a magnificent formation of bluffs along the North Platte River before succumbing to his wounds. It was for Hiram Scott that Scotts Bluff National Monument, Scotts Bluff County, and the City of Scottsbluff have been named.

Scotts Bluff National Monument, which rises 4,649 feet above sea level, was an imposing landmark which guided wagon trains along the California, Oregon, Pony Express, and Mormon Trails. Native Americans originally called this natural formation ma-a-pa-te, which translates into ``hill that is hard to go around.''

The Summit Road to the top of the Bluff was completed in 1937, allowing visitors to drive to experience the spectacular view of the valley 800 feet below. This road is the oldest existing concrete road in Nebraska and includes the only three automobile tunnels in our State.

In the Scottsbluff/Gering area, numerous events to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the National Park Service have been scheduled for August 2011, beginning with a Kick-Off Ceremony at Scotts Bluff National Monument on August 12, 2011. Platte Valley Attractions, a coalition of visitor venues in and around the area, is hosting a variety of events

and special exhibits through grants and donations from local and regional sponsors to commemorate the theme, ``Westward Expansion as seen through National Parks,'' including:

Farm and Ranch Museum is hosting westward expansion orientation films and an interactive exhibit of westward expansion transportation methods.

Midwest Theater is hosting both the premiere of a new documentary film on the Pony Express and a film by Ken Burns on America's National Parks.

North Platte Valley Museum is hosting a westward expansion map exhibit.

Western Nebraska Community College is hosting a seminar, ``Recognizing and Preserving Westward Expansion,'' with speakers who are all nationally recognized in their fields.

Western Nebraska Community College sponsored a summer youth camp that developed posters to help promote these commemorative events.

Again, on behalf of the people of Nebraska, we offer our congratulations to Scotts Bluff National Monument on its Kick-Off Ceremony and the National Park Service on its 95th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 526, I voted ``yea,'' when I intended to vote, ``nay.''