Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, to the 2017 Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan. 2017 marks the fourth consecutive year that Admiral Zukunft has traveled to west Michigan to celebrate the Coast Guard Festival as Commandant.

In 1977, Admiral Zukunft graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in government. He went on to earn a Master of Arts in management from Webster University in 1988 and a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College in 1997. All the while, he rose through the ranks of the Coast Guard.

Admiral Zukunft became the 25th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on May 30, 2014. In this capacity, he leads upwards of 88,000 personnel composed of active duty, reserve, civilian and volunteer Auxiliarists. Prior to this, Admiral Zukunft served as Commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area, Commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District and Director of the Joint Interagency Task Force West.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Second District of Michigan, we thank Admiral Zukunft for his tireless efforts to serve and protect our nation. It is with great pleasure that I welcome Admiral Zukunft to Grand Haven, Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the village of Pentwater, Michigan on the occasion of its 150th Anniversary.

On March 16, 1867, the former settlement of Pentwater was officially incorporated as a village by the Michigan Legislature. The Victorian homes and cottages scattered around the village remind visitors of Pentwater's historic past. Its first sawmill--opened in 1867--turned into a booming lumbering industry, including the largest shingle mill in the United States. As we look back at Pentwater's historic past, we hope to preserve that which has made it special.

From early on, Pentwater was known as a scenic resort destination. Today, with its picturesque location on Lake Michigan, Pentwater offers countless options for recreation and entertainment. Charles Mears State Park provides visitors the opportunity to hike, fish, sail and enjoy all that Lake Michigan has to offer.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the village of Pentwater, Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Baldwin Family Health Care, a community health center in Baldwin, Michigan, for their 50 years of dedicated service. On Friday, August 11, 2017, they will celebrate this momentous anniversary.

Founded in 1967, Baldwin Family Health Care is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center that provides quality, integrated, and comprehensive health care services that are accessible to all. At the time, it was the nation's third community health center and the first of its kind in Michigan.

Committed to providing primary health care to families in the surrounding communities, Baldwin Family Health Care offers one-stop medical shopping opportunities. This includes primary medical care, dental, lab, x-ray, pharmacy, behavioral health, health education, perinatal services, and vision services. They also provide school-based child and adolescent health centers for the Baldwin area.

Baldwin Family Health Care serves the uninsured and underinsured in Lake County. Baldwin Family Health Care is purposely located to care for families in need, especially those in Lake County's nearby public housing. Baldwin Family Health Care is implementing new health initiatives to further strengthen health services for the poor. It is more than just treatment for illnesses and injuries; there is also an emphasis on education and prevention that promotes wellness to help people lead healthier lives.

Today, they have additional centers in White Cloud, Grant, Cadillac and McBain. In all, Family Health Care serves 30,000 medical patients and nearly 8,000 dental patients.

The efforts and success of Baldwin Family Health Care in providing health education, health care, and community services should be celebrated. Congratulations to Baldwin Family Health Care on your 50th Anniversary, and thank you for your compassion for communities in West Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, let's talk about a stacked deck: trial attorneys putting cash over conscience. That is not the answer that we are in search of, but it is the answer that others who are opposed to this certainly are.

The CFPB, the so-called Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has a study itself that shows that consumers who actually use arbitration reach more favorable outcomes than those who are roped into lawsuits with cash-starved trial lawyers.

It is astounding that only 13 percent of these lawsuits provide any benefit to actual consumers, but the Bureau is still pushing this ill- advised rule. Arbitration decisions also come much more quickly for consumers. Again, the Bureau's own study concludes that arbitration decisions come 12 times faster than lawsuits.

So let's review quickly: a faster, more favorable outcome for consumers versus helping trial lawyers line their pockets. This should not be hard.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, according to the D.C. Circuit Court, unelected Bureau Director Cordray has more unilateral authority than any other single commissioner or board member in any other independent agency in the entire U.S. Government.

Congress must begin to use its authority to hold this agency accountable for its anticonsumer policies and actually provide the checks and balances that our Founders would have intended. That is the stacked deck that we have right now, folks.

The Bureau's flawed arbitration rule does absolutely nothing to protect the consumers it is charged with protecting. Instead, it is nothing more than a windfall for trial lawyers and well-connected Washington elites. The

rule's only accomplishment will be to create more class action lawsuits, lining trial lawyers' pockets with more cash while providing no real protection to consumers.

This anticonsumer rule will have the effect of making consumers wait longer for worse decisions as they seek resolutions for their disputes. In no way, shape, or form does this rule actually do what the Bureau was created to do: protect consumers.

This CRA is an important step in allowing Congress to rein in this rogue agency. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a humble public servant and someone, frankly, I am proud to call a friend, Chief James Carmody of the Wyoming, Michigan, Police Department, who was recently named Michigan Police Chief of the Year.

Jim Carmody began his career in 1975 as a police officer in Port Huron, Michigan, where he rose to the rank of deputy chief. In 2006, Jim made the decision to join the Wyoming Police Department as chief and call west Michigan home.

Chief Carmody has led the charge to strengthen the relationship between police officers and the community that they serve, while providing the residents of Wyoming, Michigan, with topnotch law enforcement.

Chief Carmody's relentless commitment to public safety doesn't end there. He also chairs the Michigan Police Chiefs' Traffic Safety Committee and was recently appointed to serve on the Governor's Traffic Safety Commission.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Second District of Michigan, I congratulate Chief Carmody on being named the top Michigan Police Chief for 2016. We thank him for his 42--and keep counting--years of service to Michigan and to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my neighbor and friend, Chief Bill Olney, on his retirement from the Zeeland Police Department, and to thank him for his work and his service.

After attending both Grand Valley State University and Wayne State University, Bill received a degree in criminal justice from Madonna University. He began his career in law enforcement in 1976 as a Michigan State Police trooper, where he served for 25 years protecting our great State.

In 2001, just one day after he retired from the Michigan State Police, Bill Olney joined the Zeeland Police Department, where he served as our chief of police for 16 years.

Chief Olney has dedicated his career to providing the highest quality law enforcement service and professionalism to the residents of Zeeland. His relentless work for our committee and dedication is clearly reflected by the numerous awards and commendations he has received over his career.

Chief Olney has served on the West Michigan Criminal Justice Training Consortium, Ottawa Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, and Stop Child Abuse and Neglect Council.

As a lifelong Detroit Lions and Michigan State Spartans fan, I know he will enjoy his retirement with his wife, Kathryn; and his children, Shannon and Matt.

I think some football is in his kids' future.

Mr. Speaker, I want to ask my colleagues to join me in saying ``thank you'' on behalf of the Second District of Michigan as we thank Chief Bill Olney for his 41 years of service to the State of Michigan and to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding a missed vote due to a meeting with a constituent. Had I been present for Roll Call vote No. 341, on H. Res. 3003 on Ordering the Previous Question, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a longtime public servant, Daryl Delabbio, on the occasion of his retirement.

Daryl has served as Kent County Administrator/Controller since 1998. Prior to his time with Kent County, he spent 11 years as Rockford city manager. In all, Daryl has dedicated four decades to the people of Kent County and the greater Grand Rapids area.

As Administrator/Controller, Daryl oversaw Kent County's daily activities, acted as its chief financial officer and headed project management. Under his leadership, Kent County maintained a balanced budget and saw the development of Millennium Park and the DeVos Place Convention Center. Most importantly, he has led the county in a non- partisan, fair, and fiscally responsible manner.

I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the career of Administrator/Controller Daryl Delabbio for his service to Kent County.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 50th anniversary of Grand Valley State University's pioneer class.

In June of 1967, in a tent on its Allendale, Michigan campus, Grand Valley held its long dreamed of first commencement ceremony. On that day, 138 seniors, including 86 members of the pioneer class that started in 1963, received their diplomas from Michigan's newest college.

These first graduates laid the foundation of a university that would grow to offer 124 degrees, enroll students from 82 different countries, and boast a 94 percent employment rate for its graduates--always a good thing.

After that first graduation ceremony in 1967, GVSU had 138 alumni. Today, the university has over 110,000 proud alumni throughout Michigan and, frankly, around the globe.

Under the leadership of its first president, James Zumberge, followed by the continued guidance of Arend Lubbers, Mark Murray, and current president, Thomas Haas, Grand Valley has come

to be a renowned institution and one of the 100 largest universities in this Nation.

During the very first commencement address, a speaker noted: ``No one could ever possibly chart your course through these years.'' And it is hard to imagine that the pioneer class could have dreamed of the role that they would be playing in helping Grand Valley State University achieve such great heights.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Grand Valley State University's pioneer class of 1967, the original ``Lakers for a Lifetime.''

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 303.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding a missed vote due to a meeting with constituents on the House steps. Had I been present for rollcall vote No. 303, H. Res. 378, The Rule providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 2581--Verify First Act and S. 1094-- Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Chairman, the economic downturn in 2008 caused Michiganders and folks around the country to lose their jobs, families to lose their savings, and even some to lose their homes. Since that time, folks on the other side of the aisle have been attempting to convince the American people that the Dodd-Frank Act is ``the answer'' to the financial crisis, despite the law failing to actually address the root cause of the downturn. In reality, Dodd-Frank has made it more difficult for hardworking taxpayers to secure a future for themselves and their children by denying them the economic recovery that they deserve.

Hardworking Americans rely on capital markets to save for everything from college to retirement. We as Congress must act to eliminate the burdensome and unnecessary red tape created under Dodd-Frank to ensure U.S. capital markets remain the most effective in the world so that all investors can receive the greatest return on their investments.

Since Dodd-Frank, our capital markets have become less stable, less efficient, and less liquid, which has made it more difficult for small businesses and American job creators around the country to access the necessary financial resources in order to expand and create jobs. In fact, Dodd-Frank has severed access to the capital markets for Main Street businesses and entrepreneurs who are the heartbeat of the American economy.

In order to succeed, small and growing companies need capital and credit--the lifeblood for growth, expansion, and job creation. Yet the government has continued to construct arbitrary walls that cut them off from essential financing as smaller companies are caught in a sea of red tape created by Washington bureaucrats.

Enough is enough. In order to increase economic opportunity, we must enact commonsense regulatory reform and restore accountability to Wall Street and to Washington. The House Financial Services Committee achieves this goal through the carefully crafted CHOICE Act, which we are debating here today.

The Financial CHOICE Act eliminates Dodd-Frank's one-size-fits-all regulatory structure which has strangled community financial institutions with overly burdensome regulations that were meant for the largest banks here in America.

Mr. Chairman, by enacting the CHOICE Act, community banks and credit unions can utilize their resources to help their individual customers and small businesses achieve financial independence. If we want small businesses to continue to be the engine of economic growth, we must remove the regulatory red tape that is preventing community lenders from supporting these small business job creators.

We hold Wall Street accountable. We hold the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accountable, and we make it more effective to do its job. No government agency should be unaccountable to the American taxpayer.

Dodd-Frank was a larger social agenda waiting for a crisis, and I understand that from my friends on the other side; but today, small businesses and hardworking Americans continue to pay the price.

The Financial CHOICE Act enacts progrowth reforms, restores accountability, and provides opportunity. I encourage a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Chair, I support this amendment offered by Congressman Hollingsworth, who is a great member of our committee.

But folks watching this, you have to understand what is going on. You just heard about how we are trying to roll back things, roll back bipartisan consensus. We have bipartisan consensus on this.

This very issue was in a bill that was proposed by current OMB Director Mick Mulvaney. In fact, when it came out of committee, there were 4 ``no'' votes against it. The ranking member herself voted for this very issue in a Business Development Corporation bill, a BDC bill, that had been sponsored the last Congress. In addition, the omnibus bill that had passed had this very provision in it as well.

So what you are seeing is hypocrisy, at best. Gamesmanship and politics really is probably what is going on.

This amendment builds upon a bipartisan provision in the CHOICE Act that directs the SEC to do something that had been an oversight. It is streamlining these securities-offering provisions.

I know it is complicated and very esoteric, but these well-known, seasoned issuers, or WKSIs as they are known, really have been a secure and safe way of investing for Joe and Janet retirement investor. That is what I like to the call them. It is my mom and dad and your mom and dad, us, and our brothers and sisters. It is retail investors. What this amendment does is conforms the filing and offering regulations for closed-end funds to those traditional operating companies.

With that, I offer my support and encourage support. Let's stop the hypocrisy and politics.

Mr. Speaker, the economic downturn in 2008 caused Michiganders and citizens around the country to lose their jobs, families to lose their savings, and way too many to lose their homes. Since that time, our friends on the other side of the aisle have attempted to convince the American people that Dodd-Frank was ``the answer'' to the financial crisis, despite the law failing to actually address the root cause of the downturn. In reality, Dodd-Frank has made it more difficult for hardworking taxpayers to secure a future for themselves and their children by denying them the economic recovery that they deserve.

Let's be honest: Dodd-Frank was an agenda waiting for a crisis. So many issues not related to economic stability were crammed into this flawed law that, now, big banks have gotten even bigger and small banks have disappeared at an alarming rate. Even worse, Dodd-Frank enshrined ``too big to fail'' and, frankly, put in place ``too small to save.''

Enough is enough. In order to increase economic opportunity, we must enact commonsense regulatory reform and restore accountability to Wall Street and to Washington. The House Financial Services Committee achieves this goal through a carefully crafted Financial CHOICE Act, which we are debating here today.

The Financial CHOICE Act eliminates Dodd-Frank's one-size-fits-all regulatory structure that has strangled community financial institutions with overly burdensome regulations that were meant for the largest banks in America. By enacting the CHOICE Act, community banks and credit unions can utilize their resources to help individual customers and small businesses achieve financial independence.

If we want small businesses to continue to be the engine of economic growth, we must remove the regulatory red tape that is preventing these community lenders from supporting small business job creators.

Additionally, the Financial CHOICE Act holds Wall Street accountable by imposing the toughest penalties in history. To protect consumers from financial fraud is a key goal for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, this important legislation also holds Washington bureaucrats accountable by creating constitutional checks and balances for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau so that it can more effectively do its job. No government agency should be unaccountable to the American people.

Lastly, this commonsense legislation protects taxpayers by eliminating too big to fail, something that my colleague had just talked about, and requires failing institutions to liquidate through a streamlined bankruptcy process, not taxpayer-funded bailouts. The process that she was talking about, this orderly liquidation authority, the government runs the bank for 5 years, and that is unacceptable.

So I hope you will join me in supporting this rule and supporting the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding missed votes due to family matters. Had I been present for Roll Call vote number 271, Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 348, Providing for consideration of H.R. 953, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2017, I would have voted Yea. Had I been present for Roll Call vote number 272, H. Res. 348, The Rule providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 953--Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2017, I would have voted Yea. Had I been present for Roll Call vote number 273, H.R. 2288, The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding missed votes due to family matters. Had I been present for roll call vote number 269, H.R. 1862, The Global Child Protection Act of 2017, I would have voted Yea. Had I been present for roll call vote number 270, H.R. 1842, The Strengthening Children's Safety Act of 2017, I would have voted Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th anniversary of the National Association of Home Builders.

For three-quarters of a century, the NAHB has been fighting for homeowners, home builders, and communities across the country. Today, the federation includes over 700 local and State home builder associations who are committed to fostering a pro-growth climate and sensible, cost-effective housing policies.

How do I know? Because my family has been involved in our local chapter for decades.

The NAHB has long supported the builders who create beautiful homes in west Michigan--my home--as well as across the Nation. Many of these builders are small-business men and women who represent the backbone of the American economy.

By standing up to regulatory overreach and promoting a pro-growth environment, the NAHB is helping these entrepreneurial small businesses to have a voice. Thanks in part to the efforts of the NAHB, builders and consumers throughout the country are back on their feet, housing production has increased, and builders are increasingly confident in the market.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the National Association of Home Builders as they work to keep the home building industry moving forward.

Congratulations for those 75 years.