Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I claim time in opposition, although I do not oppose the amendment.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment, and I am proud to work with my colleague, Representative Khanna, in the effort to increase research funding for food allergies.

When my colleague asked me to join his efforts, I could not help but think of my 1-year-old son and his probability of developing an allergy later in life.

The CDC reports the prevalence of food allergies in children increased by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011. In recent years, we have seen the prevalence of peanut or tree nut allergies more than triple in American children.

Food Allergy Research and Education, also known as FARE, estimates 5 million children and more than 32 million Americans have food allergies in the U.S. Furthermore, State by State data shows that in my State of Ohio, food allergies and anaphylaxis increased by 169 percent from 2009 to 2016.

Major foods causing anaphylaxis in Ohio were eggs, peanuts, shellfish, and tree nuts. About half of the food allergies occurred in kids under 13.

Clearly, we need to do more to find the scientific causes for this spike in allergies.

Madam Chair, our amendment is a step in the right direction.

Last year, a local foundation, the Allison Rose Foundation in northeast Ohio, was launched to educate the public about the real risk that food allergies can pose to individuals who suffer from it. The foundation was established in the name of Allison Rose, a young college student who died as a result of a reaction due to her peanut allergy.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment to increase research for food allergies and help us prevent future tragedies like Allison Rose.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the rule that would provide for consideration of H.R. 2740. This package provides funding for several items that would benefit my district in northeast Ohio, but it falls short in several key regards, including funding for key programs that would help keep our children safe.

In particular, Mr. Speaker, this package fails to provide adequate funding for the School Safety National Activities program, which gives grants to schools to support safe learning environments, including programs to combat substance abuse and cultivate academic success.

This bill provides $80 million less in funding than what the administration requested. I offered an amendment to raise that number by $10 million, but

my colleagues in the majority blocked it from consideration.

I think we can all agree that school safety is of the utmost importance and an area that is vital for Congress to invest in. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will work with me to assure that programs to protect our children, like the School Safety National Activities program, remain a congressional priority.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to President Richard Jusseaume, who is retiring this year after 18 years of leadership at Walsh University. Ohio's second longest serving president of a four-year private university, President Jusseaume has ushered in unprecedented growth in almost every facet of the university's operations. In total, he has spent five decades at Walsh University in various roles including student, Dean of Students, Board of Directors member, and President.

Through the tireless work and effort of President Jusseaume, Walsh University has cemented its status as a leading academic institution. During his tenure, full-time undergraduate enrollment has increased by more than 60 percent, the university has more than doubled its number of undergraduate majors and launched its first doctorate programs, and the number of buildings on Walsh's North Canton campus has more than doubled from 11 to 27 buildings.

What happens at a university is richer than passing on intellectual knowledge. Classrooms shape our habits, thoughts, and practice, thus developing the future citizens of our liberal society. President Jusseaume has steadfastly dedicated himself to developing students into leaders in service to others and prepared a diverse student body to thrive, and positively impact local and global communities.

As you and I know, strong leadership is critical to academic success. President Jusseaume's clear vision and unwavering commitment to students has shaped Walsh University into one of our nation's finest academic institutions, attracting the best and brightest. I congratulate and thank President Jusseaume for living out the passion and principle of the university's mission statement and wish him and his family all the best.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an Ohio-based drug store chain, Discount Drug Mart on their 50th Anniversary. Small businesses are the heart of America. They not only create jobs and opportunities, but engineer vibrant communities to live and raise our families in.

Like many small businesses in our country, Discount Drug Mart was established after somebody took a risk and poured their heart and soul into a visionary product. In 1969, Parviz Boodjeh opened the first Discount Drug Mart in Elyria, Ohio, combining a retail store with the personal care of a Pharmacist's office. By integrating disease management and screening services with necessities and convenience items, Discount Drug Mart has influenced businesses around the globe and continues to support thousands of Ohioans today. Mr. Boodjeh's leadership and compassionate touch have helped his family expand to over 70 stores and operate in over 20 Ohio counties. Discount Drug Mart, Inc., serves as a model for the American Dream and an example of what hard work and dedication can accomplish.

I offer my sincerest congratulations to this valued business and celebrate with them for over a half-century of service to our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 539, the Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2019.

I want to thank Mr. Lipinski, Chairwoman Johnson, Ranking Member Lucas, and Mr. Webster for all the hard work they have put into this important legislation.

Entrepreneurship is hard; it is risky; it is the road less traveled; it is an all-encompassing journey that tests every ounce of strength and skill that those bold enough to pursue it have to offer; and its successful practice is essential to the future prosperity of our Nation.

The bill we are considering today takes the breakthrough lessons of customer development first codified by Steve Blank, whose teachings are engrained in the conscience of many business school students--but less of our Ph.D. students--and forms the basis of the NSF I-Corps program, a program that has already proven its worth at turning breakthrough scientific research into successful commercial enterprise.

Since this program was created in 2011, more than 600 startups have been formed through the various I-Corps sites, including in my home State of Ohio at the University of Akron, The Ohio State University, and the University of Toledo.

As just one example, University of Akron I-Corps startup Fontus Blue provides decisionmaking software that helps water treatment plants to produce consistently excellent drinking water. The software is used by plants in 24 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Brazil.

The bill before us today expands upon the success of the current program by opening up access to small business innovation research grantees and also private individuals. Additionally, this bill allows small business innovation research grants and the small business technology transfer grants to be used to access I-Corps training.

Finally, this bill would require I-Corps to develop a course for commercialization-ready teams to help them learn the skills needed to attract investors, build a brand, and scale a business.

As we confront the economic challenges of the 21st century, it will be our innovators and entrepreneurs who will create solutions to these seemingly intractable problems by channeling the entrepreneurial spirit and force of will that has driven our country to its greatest economic heights.

The Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act safeguards our economy by empowering future generations of entrepreneurs in all corners of our country to turn their wildest dreams into our collective achievements.

Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of this bill, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.