Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3658) to grant the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the Monuments Men, in recognition of their heroic role in the preservation, protection, and restitution of monuments, works of art, and artifacts of cultural importance during and following World War II.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 3658, currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 3658, the Monuments Men Recognition Act of 2013, introduced by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger). This bill authorizes the minting and award of a single gold medal collectively in honor of the heroic role played by the men and women of that group in ensuring the preservation, protection, and restitution of monuments, works of art, and artifacts of cultural importance during and following World War II. The medal would be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it would be available for display or loan as appropriate.

Mr. Speaker, even before the stain of World War II began to spread across Europe, priceless cultural objects were being damaged or appropriated from their rightful owners by corrupt governments. When the horrific carnage of war descended over the continent, many other works--paintings, monuments, cathedrals and other buildings--were threatened, damaged, or destroyed, marring or obliterating centuries of incredibly beautiful handiwork.

Recognizing this disaster, President Roosevelt formed the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas in 1943, and the Commission facilitated the formation of the monuments, fine arts, and archives section under the Allied armies. The men and women who worked tirelessly at the Commission, at home but mostly abroad, were empowered by General Dwight D. Eisenhower to carry out their work throughout Europe, even on the front lines, and became known as the Monuments Men.

As I had noted earlier as we were talking about one of the other medals,

my father happened to serve in Italy during World War II. I know that was one of his concerns as he was going around seeing the damage and the carnage that had happened there, what had been lost to that war. Of course some of those artworks were irreparably damaged or some never even recovered. As we have seen in headlines as recently as the last couple of weeks, some are still even being recovered. Without the heroic work of the Monuments Men, much of Europe's cultural heritage would have been lost or forever remain hidden after it was stolen.

After the war, many of the Monuments Men stayed in the business of preserving and displaying art. Many became renowned directors and curators of preeminent international cultural institutions, professors at institutions of higher education, and founders of artistic associations.

If we did not know this story before, most of us now know the outlines thanks to a pair of books by Robert Edsel detailing the Monuments Men's work and, of course, the George Clooney film of the same name released earlier this year. Some of us may have seen a documentary on their work produced about a decade ago, called, ``The Rape of Europa.'' I do want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas for hosting a screening of that movie that I think sort of brought that to the attention of many here in Washington a few months ago.

Mr. Speaker, of the 350 Monuments Men, two of whom died in actual combat, only a few of the men and women we know today as the Monuments Men are still alive. We and the world owe them an incalculable debt. One way we can acknowledge their contributions is to award them the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their work. The bill has 297 cosponsors in the House, and a companion bill introduced by Senator Blunt has 77 cosponsors. I ask for immediate passage of this important legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Granger).

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend sharing that story and personalizing it. I had a chance to tour much of Europe and Eastern Europe back when I was in school, and seeing the devastation that hit cities like St. Petersburg and Leningrad; Warsaw, which was completely leveled; Prague; Budapest; Berlin, it is amazing that there was really almost anything that was preserved. I think we are better for it as a world and as a culture to have that.

With that, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1209) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the ``Doolittle Tokyo Raiders'', for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 1209, currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 1209, a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the brave airmen known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders for outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the United States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson). This bill authorizes the minting and award of a single gold medal, collectively, in honor of the mission that was one of the catalysts of Allied Powers' victory in the Pacific in World War II. After its award, the medal would be given to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, where it will be displayed with other Doolittle Raid memorabilia, including the famed ``Doolittle Goblets,'' and be available for loan as appropriate.

Mr. Speaker, the valor of the 80 men we now call the Doolittle Raiders is beyond most people's imagination. They all volunteered for an extremely hazardous--some would say impossible--mission, as if flying huge bombers during the war wasn't already extremely hazardous, and when a major element of their mission was jeopardized, they went ahead with the raid anyway, knowing it would drastically increase the chances that they would be either killed or captured.

Under the command of the tough and visionary Colonel James Doolittle, these men from the 17th Bombardment Group--medium size--ended up flying the first ever mission in which medium bombers took off from a carrier in combat conditions. Because the USS Hornet had been discovered by the enemy, the raiders ended up taking off for a mission that, at 670 miles, was at least 100 miles longer than had been predicted and planned for--enough further to virtually guarantee they would crash land or be forced down in the sea or in Japanese-controlled China rather than on Allied airstrips deeper into China.

Mr. Speaker, that is what happened. Two died in crashes, and of the eight captured, three were executed and a fourth died of disease. But considering the daring nature of their mission and the morale-booster it was for the U.S. soldiers and civilians, that 70 returned to the United States is a miracle. Importantly, the raids on April 18, 1942, proved to the Japanese that their homeland was vulnerable to attack, which led to the recall of several top fighter squadrons for homeland defense and prompted other repositioning of Japanese assets that many believe led to the crushing American victory in the Battle of Midway in early June of that year, just 6 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Mr. Speaker, the men who risked--and lost--their lives in the Doolittle Raid are legendary heroes, and the raid itself is one of the premier military exploits of our still young Nation. This medal is well-earned and long overdue. The bill has 309 cosponsors in the House, and a companion bill introduced by Senator Brown of Ohio had 78 cosponsors when it passed the other body in November.

I ask for unanimous approval of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from Texas for sharing that history.

I too share, I think, in the surprise that my colleague from Massachusetts expressed, which is that this hasn't been done already-- it certainly should have been--whether it was Jimmy Stewart, who starred in a famous movie back in the day--the whole notion of launching these B-25 Mitchells off the deck was so new, and what would be a simple commute today maxed out the capabilities of these airplanes, and it was very important.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I do ask that we pass this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 309) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that

all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on S. 309, currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of S. 309, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol, introduced by the gentleman from Iowa, Mr. Harkin.

This bill authorizes the minting and award of a single gold medal in honor of their outstanding and largely unrecognized work. The medal would be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it would be available for display or loan, as appropriate.

The unpaid volunteer members of the Civil Air Patrol during World War II provided extraordinary humanitarian and combat services during a critical time of need for the Nation.

The CAP, as it was known, was established initially as a part of the Office of Civil Defense, by American citizens, on December 1 of 1941-- one week short of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor--out of the desire of civil airmen and the country to be mobilized with their personal equipment in the defense of the country.

During the war, CAP members used their own aircraft to perform a myriad of essential tasks for the military and the country as a whole within the United States, including for attacks on enemy submarines off the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States.

From the beginning, CAP leaders urged the military to use its services to patrol coastal waters, but it was met with great resistance because of the nonmilitary status of CAP civilian pilots.

Finally, in response to the ever-increasing submarine attacks, the Tanker Committee of the Petroleum Industry War Council urged the Navy Department and the War Department to consider the use of the CAP to help patrol the sea lanes off the coasts of the United States.

While the Navy initially rejected this suggestion, the Army decided it had merit, and the Civil Air Patrol's coastal patrol began in March of 1942. Eventually, 21 bases, ranging from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Brownsville, Texas, were set up for the CAP to patrol the Atlantic and gulf coasts, with 40,000 volunteers eventually participating.

Their initial purpose was to spot submarines, report their positions to the military, and force them to dive below the service, which limited their operating speed and maneuverability and reduced their ability to detect and attack shipping, because their attacks against unguarded merchant shipping were conducted while the submarines were surfaced.

Immediately, it became apparent that there were opportunities for these CAP pilots to attack the submarines, such as in Florida, when they came across a submarine which had stranded itself on a sandbar.

Finally, after several instances when the military could not respond in a timely manner, the decision was made by the military to arm the CAP aircraft with 50- and 100-pound bombs and to arm some larger twin- engine aircraft with 325-pound depth charges.

The arming of the CAP aircraft dramatically changed the mission for these civilian aircrews, and it resulted in more than 57 attacks on enemy submarines.

At the conclusion of the 18-month coastal patrol, the heroic CAP aircrews would be credited with the following: two submarines damaged or destroyed; 57 submarines attacked; 82 bombs dropped against those submarines; 173 radio reports of submarine positions, with a number of credited assists for kills made by military units; 86,685 total missions flown; and over 244,000 total flight hours and 24 million miles flown.

This extraordinary national service set the stage for the postwar CAP to become a valuable nonprofit, public service organization, chartered by Congress and designated the auxiliary of the United States Air Force that provides essential emergency, operational, and public services to communities, States, the Federal Government, and the military.

Mr. Speaker, this honor is richly deserved. Senator Harkin has pursued this effort for several Congresses, and this bill passed the other body exactly a year ago, with 81 cosponsors. The House version, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), has 353 cosponsors, so I ask for the immediate approval of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McCaul for his work on this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 685) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces, collectively, in recognition of their heroic military service and defense of our country's freedom throughout the history of aviation warfare, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous materials for the Record on H.R. 685, as amended, currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Today, there has been a lot of recognition about those who have served our country, so I rise in support of H.R. 685, the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Johnson).

This bill authorizes the minting and award of a single gold medal in recognition of the American fighter aces' heroic military service and defense of our country's freedom, which has spanned the history of aviation warfare.

Once awarded, the medal will be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be available for display or loan, as appropriate.

Mr. Speaker, this country has had many military heroes in its history, men and women who have fought valiantly and who have often died in the process to defend freedom around the world. All are heroes, but none has captured the imagination more than the American fighter ace, flying usually alone, directly at the enemy.

Each of us knows the story of one or more aces, but probably few know the stories of more than a couple of them. I think most people would be surprised to know that there are more than 1,500 of the more than 60,000 U.S. combat pilots who have achieved ace status by destroying five or more enemy aircraft in combat.

What even fewer know is that not all of these pilots flew for the U.S., even as they flew in the defense of U.S. ideals. Some flew in the British Royal Air Force, in the Canadian Royal Air Force, and in the French Lafayette Escadrille in World War I before the U.S. entered the war.

American aces flew in the Spanish Civil War, in the Sino-Japanese War, in the Arab-Israeli War; and in echoing the recent tensions in Ukraine, one American fighter collected his victories while flying for the White Russian Air Force against the Red Air Force just after World War I.

Mr. Speaker, the stories of America's fighter aces are full of the kind of courage and sacrifice we all think of as emblematic of our country.

It would be easy for me to tell a few of those tales, but I think the story of the fighter aces and of fighter pilots in general can best be told by the man who will be my side's next speaker--the author of this bill, Mr. Johnson of Texas.

As I am sure all of the Members of this Chamber know, Mr. Johnson is a decorated fighter pilot from both the Korean and Vietnam wars, who spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison after being shot down on his 25th mission.

After noting that this bill is now sponsored by 312 Members of the House and that a Senate version passed on March 26 with 81 cosponsors, I urge the bill's immediate passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), the House's ace and the author of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to join all my colleagues in thanking our colleague from Texas for underscoring this important legislation and for his service.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. I. Justin Kleaveland on his 90th birthday, which he celebrates on April 11, 2014. A resident of North Muskegon for over 60 years, Dr. Kleaveland has been an integral part of our community.

In 1951, Dr. Kleaveland joined the Army in the Doctor's Draft of the Korean War, serving for two years in Stuttgart, Germany. Upon returning to the United States, Dr. Kleaveland and his wife, Rosemary, settled in Muskegon, Michigan.

Upon returning from Germany, Dr. Kleaveland served as an internist at Hackley Hospital and Mercy Hospital until retiring in 2003, at the age of 79. Dr. Kleaveland has been an active contributor to local and state politics, with special interest in both health care and education reform.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Second District of Michigan, I congratulate Dr. Kleaveland on his milestone 90th birthday and thank him for his service to Western Michigan and to our nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding one missed vote on February 28, 2014. Had I been present for rollcall 86, on the amendment offered by Mr. Cummings of Maryland to H.R. 899, striking the requirement that independent regulatory agencies comply with Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, tonight the House passed legislation addressing an issue that is near and dear to my heart and very important to Michigan involving Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.

For years, there has been a back and forth between the community surrounding Sleeping Bear Dunes and the National Park Service over the best way to make sure that this pristine treasure is accessible to the public.

I have personally been involved in this process for over a decade, and I am glad to see my friend and colleague, Dr. Dan Benishek, who now represents the area, pick up the legislative torch that my friend Pete Hoekstra and I--we introduced bills to protect the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Dan has finally been able to take it across the finish line.

This bipartisan and bicameral solution ensures that beaches will remain open, public roads can be improved, hunting and fishing will continue to be allowed, and private property rights are actually protected.

Tonight's legislative achievement would not be possible without the hard work and tireless efforts of local citizens, local business owners, and local advocacy groups such as the Coalition for Access to the Lakeshore.

I look forward to President Obama signing this much-needed piece of legislation and the benefits that there will be for the visitors to the park, the local residents, and small businesses throughout northern Michigan.

Most importantly, let's see Sleeping Bear Dunes preserved for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, if you thought the Obama administration's rollout of www.healthcare.gov was bad, believe it or not, it got worse for another section of our citizens.

Back in Michigan, the Second District is home to a higher number of Latino citizens than any other congressional district in the State of Michigan; and like thousands of other residents across Michigan, Hispanic Michiganians are forced to deal with higher costs, the potential loss of their doctor, and canceled insurance policies all because of ObamaCare. These citizens are in need of the same information that we are all in search of.

Well, after being delayed for more than 2 months, the administration finally unveiled its Spanish language Web site, cuidadodesalud.gov, that contained an embarrassing amount of Spanglish. Even I couldn't come up with that much Spanglish.

Frankly, it is insulting that the administration would simply make up words, rather than provide an accurate translation of the President's signature achievement.

One friend made the humorous observation that it is just as bad in Spanish as it is in English, and nobody can work with it in Spanish either.

Well, Latinos are more adversely impacted in many ways by soaring premiums because the median age of the Hispanic population is actually 10 years younger than the national average; therefore, they are seeing these premiums soar, as it shifts those costs to younger Americans.

It is predicted that younger citizens are the very folks who are needed to sign up for this program in order to make it actuarially sound, but these are the same folks who are not doing so right now.

The focus of the debate, instead, needs to be on patient-centered solutions that not only lower costs, but deliver high-quality care to more citizens, none of which, unfortunately, ObamaCare actually does. I believe it is time to repeal and replace this failed policy.

You know, Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have led with numerous options, such as the Patient OPTION Act, as Dr. Broun was just talking about; Dr. Price of Georgia; Dr. Benishek of my home State of Michigan; the Republican Study Committee plan--a number of plans are out there that have been proposed that I think would be a far better solution to those things that we can all agree on: having greater access for more people at a lower cost.

But I think one thing we can all agree on in any language is that ObamaCare is off the mark.

I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey and the leadership that he has provided all of us in the Pro-Life Caucus.

I am looking here at my phone. I wish I could share this on TV with everybody and everybody up in the gallery and with my colleagues. It is of someone very special named Sloan, and I am going to tell a story about her a little later.

It is of someone very special named Sloan, and I am going to tell a little story about her a little later.

This is an inspiration as I am coming up here today to talk a little bit about this issue. The numbers, the statistics have been shared, and sometimes they ring hollow--it is just numbers. We have to attach the lives that have been affected by that, not only those children whose lives were lost, but the mothers, the fathers, the grandparents, those that lost that and have that void in their families. So, of course, we must continue to fight for the unborn.

There is another story to be told, as well. That story is about those children that we cannot forget who need permanent, loving homes. Each year there are about 120,000 families--120,000 families--that navigate the adoption process and welcome new children into their lives. I am pleased to report that adoption rates in west Michigan where I represent are among the highest in the country. Bethany Christian Services is located in Grand Rapids. It is the largest adoption agency in America.

I have a personal connection with the Lake Shore Pregnancy Center. My wife serves on the board of that fine organization, and there are so many others out there trying to provide those services. Our own church this past Sunday set up a Pack 'n Play. The challenge to all of us at the church was let's fill it. In fact, let's fill two of those Pack 'n Plays with all the needs that these mothers and these children have so we can provide the alternative to those young ladies oftentimes who are desperate and are looking for a way out. They are looking for an answer, and they don't know where to turn so often and have crisis pregnancy centers there to offer alternatives to death and destruction. It is something that we need to take very seriously, and I take seriously as a believer.

The right-to-life groups where I served as my church's right-to-life representative for over 10 years, and was proud to do that, was able to be that voice and tirelessly promote the culture of life and strong families. I think that is something that we need to continue to do.

I am struck by families in my own church, the Holwiendas and the Meyards, who have done not just one international adoption, but multiple international adoptions. Friends from school--my roommate in college and best friend from high school was adopted through Bethany Christian Services very early on. I think we cannot forget those faces and those lives that have become so productive and have changed our culture.

I was especially touched this year--and this is where Sloan comes in--I was especially touched this year as I watched the life of a member of my own staff change when she and her husband adopted a little baby girl. She sent me this photo just a couple of minutes ago. The caption was, ``need some inspiration?'' And the photo of Sloan came up--yes, I think she has Spaghettios smeared on her face and all kinds of great stuff--as she is sitting in her highchair. But those are the things that we need to keep in mind when we are talking about life and the culture of life that we have.

Let's change those statistics. More stories like this one can be told. More stories about Sloan and Steve and others that have been in our lives. These are stories that change lives, not just of those children, but it changes the lives of those adoptive parents, the grandparents, the aunts and the uncles and the friends. We are thrilled and celebrate those families that have made that choice, and we pray that the work that we do here can continue to help them make that choice.

I thank my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey, for allowing me to be a part of this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage passage of H.R. 2274, the Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act. Maybe we need to work on the titles getting a little simpler, too. It is very complex. It is a very complex set of laws and rules that have been put in place.

I do want to say thank you to my subcommittee chairman, Mr. Garrett, and Ranking Member Sewell for their work on this, as well as Chairman Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters, as we have explored this and dove headfirst, really, into this issue.

It has been estimated, Mr. Speaker, that there are approximately 10 trillion--that's ``trillion'' with a ``t''--privately-owned, small family-owned type of businesses that will be sold or potentially closed in the coming years as baby boomers retire.

Now, we want to see one of those things happen. We want people to see the fruits of their hard work over the years, and we want to see them be able to sell those companies. We don't want to see them close them unnecessarily, because we know the impact that happens to small communities, much like has happened in some of my hometown communities, when we have seen that happen.

Mergers and acquisitions are also known as M&A. Brokers play a critical role in facilitating the transfer of ownership of these smaller privately held companies. Currently, all M&A brokers are subject to costly, burdensome requirements which adversely impact and unnecessarily increase the cost that business owners incur when they buy or sell their businesses. Often we have heard anecdotally and statistically that they have to make a decision sometimes. They can't move ahead and can't really afford to sell that small--literally, sometimes--corner store, mom-and-pop-type operation, and so they end of closing it because they can't afford to go through the sale.

In fact, the issue has been highlighted by the SEC's Forum on Small Business Capital Formation, which, for the last 7 years--that is over the last two administrations, this current administration and the last administration--has repeatedly recommended that the SEC modernize and streamline the regulation of M&A brokers. But, unfortunately, the SEC has never acted on these recommendations.

Well, we think the time is up. We believe that 7 years is long enough. It is time that this body and hopefully our colleagues in the Senate, as well, will take this bill and finally put some closure to this issue. That is why I, along with Representatives Brian Higgins and Bill Posey, introduced H.R. 2274. This bipartisan bill would create a simplified system for brokers performing services in connection with the transfer of ownership of smaller privately held companies.

By simplifying the regulation and reducing the cost of these business brokerage services, these smaller privately owned companies would be able to safely, efficiently, and effectively transfer their company, preserving jobs currently in existence, while also allowing for continued economic growth and job creation to take place at these companies.

There is no risk to the public; there is no threat to the safety and soundness of our economic system; but it is very, very important to those communities that have those kinds of businesses in them and where they are located.

In October 2013, a piece in The Hill newspaper, Michael Nall, president of the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors, a leading international organization serving the middle-market M&A industry, stated:

H.R. 2274, the Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales,

and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2013 is an excellent

bipartisan bill, one whose time has come. Congress should get

it done before the end of the year.

Sorry, Mr. Nall. We are a little behind schedule, but we are getting there.

He goes on:

It's not a sexy bill, not one that prime time TV will be

talking about, and not one that will evoke a question in the

next Presidential debates; but it is a bill that does have

teeth, and it is a serious and substantive piece of small

business legislation.

Well, maybe we can inject this into the next Presidential election because this ultimately is about the foundation of our country. It is about that ability for entrepreneurs to go out, strike out on their own, go become successful and then reap the rewards of that and, all the while, provide jobs to communities like we all represent.

Well, in today's highly charged political environment, it is nice to show the American people that a positive, effective initiative can be considered and passed with strong bipartisan support. In fact, this important legislation, as has been mentioned, overwhelmingly passed the Financial Services Committee by a bipartisan vote of 57-0. It is legislation like H.R. 2274 that demonstrates Congress can act in a bipartisan manner to positively impact the lives of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, with that I urge a ``yes'' vote on this legislation, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleague to see H.R. 2274 make it to President Obama's desk.

I want to thank Chairman Garrett for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Zeeland West High School's football team on winning the 2013 Division 3 State championship on Saturday, November 30, at Ford Field in Detroit.

The Zeeland Dux rushed for over 440 yards during the game, resulting in a 34-27 win over DeWitt. Their 13-1 record this season is a testament to the players' dedication, hard work, and self-sacrifice. In fact, the program itself has become an example of hard work and leadership. This is the Dux's third State title since the program's inception only 9 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't also congratulate Dux Head Coach John Shillito and his coaching staff for a job well done with his players, as he leads them not only on the field, but off the field.

Again, congratulations to the Dux on their big win last Saturday.

Mr. Speaker, at least 225,000 residents of Michigan have--or will shortly--received letters informing them that their current health insurance policies will be canceled because of ObamaCare. To put that number in context, more people in Michigan have had their private health care plans canceled due to ObamaCare than have even selected the private plan nationwide on healthcare.gov.

Adding insult to injury, the dismal enrollment number announced by the administration does not represent an adequate depiction of the ObamaCare experience. Whether it is Nancy from Grant, Barbara from Walker, Terry from Grandville, or David from Twin Lake, my constituents all seem to be sharing the same experience: frustration, followed by exasperation, rounded out with higher costs that they can't afford. We hear you, and I am here for you.

The reality of the ObamaCare ``experience'' is a Web site that is difficult to navigate--when it actually works--coupled with policy options that result in higher health care costs for Michigan consumers.

I applaud my friend and colleague, Fred Upton, who is going to be leading a charge to provide a legislative solution for that problem tomorrow. I hope our friends across the aisle will be able to provide that same relief to their constituents, and I hope they will join me in doing so.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say thank you to a friend of mine, Mayor James R. Buck, who has dedicated 45 years of service to the city of Grandville in the Second District; and the last 29 he served as mayor.

Mayor Buck has been recognized countless times for his leadership and commitment to west Michigan. Most recently, he received the Michigan Municipal League's Michael A. Guido Leadership and Public Service Award.

In addition to his role as mayor, Jim serves as the chairman of the Grand Valley Metro Council, which plays a leading role in fostering public and private cooperation to enhance quality of life in west Michigan.

Under the steady leadership of Mayor Buck, Grandville has grown and thrived. Grandville would not be the city it is today without Jim, and his impact will be felt forever and be recognized by all.

I want to personally thank my friend, Jim Buck, for his dedication and service to our community. Your long days and hard hours have helped put Grandville on the map as a destination to do business, visit and, most importantly, live. Mayor Buck, thank you for what you have done, not only for Grandville, not only for west Michigan, but for all of Michigan and our country. Enjoy the time off. Thanks, Jim.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Judge Jeffrey R. Hughes and his commendable service to Michigan's Western District as a Bankruptcy Judge.

Judge Hughes served Michigan's Western District as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for over 13 years. Further, his service to the state has been a long time commitment, as he has worked for Michigan communities for over 30 years.

Judge Hughes received his Bachelor's in Economics from the University of Michigan in 1977 and his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan in 1980 where he was an active member of Phi Beta Kappa. From there he remained in his home state, practicing law for Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP for 20 years specializing in bankruptcy law and litigation. Throughout this experience he never forgot his local communities, participating in many community-based programs coordinated through the firm. Also during this time, Judge Hughes was annually recognized in ``The Best Lawyers in America'' until his appointment to the bench in 2000.

After 13 years of service to the nation and to West Michigan, he retired from Federal employment in September of 2013. Judge Hughes is a regular speaker at seminars, including those sponsored by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education and the American Bankruptcy Institute. In addition, he appears as a guest instructor each semester at Cooley Law School's Grand Rapids campus and has participated in the extern programs offered by Cooley Law School's Michigan campuses and Michigan State University Law School. While Judge Hughes will no longer be a Federal judge, he continues to ardently serve those in Michigan.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Judge Hughes for his service to Michigan and the Western District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding two missed votes on October 12, 2013. Had I been present for rollcall 545, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding certain provisions of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2642 relating to the Secretary of Agriculture's administration of tariff-rate quotas for raw and refined sugar offered by Mr. Pitts of Pennsylvania, I would have voted ``nay.'' Had I been present for rollcall 546, on the motion to instruct conferees offered by Mr. Peterson of Minnesota to H.R. 2609, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, I would have voted ``nay.''