Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, in March of 2012, then-IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman assured Congress: ``there is no targeting of conservative groups.'' Yet, I continued to hear stories from constituents telling me a different story. On April 23, 2012, I joined with 62 of my House colleagues in writing the IRS Commissioner inquiring further about the possible targeting. We were assured that the rules were being applied fairly and that there was no targeting or delay of processing applications from conservative groups.

In April of 2013, top IRS official Lois Lerner revealed in a public forum that the agency had been discriminating against more than 75 groups with conservative sounding names like ``Tea Party'' or ``Patriot'' in the run-up to the 2012 election the very time we were inquiring. Ms. Lerner actually went so far as to plant a question in the audience about the issue. Ms. Lerner's admission came just days before the release of an internal Treasury Inspector General audit that documented that the IRS had been misleading Congress.

When asked by Members of the House about the targeting, Miss Lerner has refused to answer our questions on multiple occasions, prompting the House to find her in contempt of Congress. The rights of hundreds and perhaps thousands of ordinary Americans have been violated, and I am most concerned about making sure that justice is pursued in protecting their rights.

Further allegations of abuse have been made by other conservative groups. The IRS admitted that someone violated the law and leaked confidential taxpayer information on a Republican Senatorial candidate. Disclosing confidential taxpayer information is one of the worst things an IRS employee can do--it's a felony, punishable with a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison. The Treasury Inspector General noted eight instances of unauthorized access to records, with at least one willful violation, yet Attorney General Eric Holder has failed to prosecute. Why?

Earlier this year I led an effort with the support of over fifty of my House colleagues demanding that Attorney General Eric Holder appoint an independent special prosecutor to investigate these IRS abuses. Instead, A.G. Holder has appointed a partisan Democrat to lead the Justice Department's internal investigation who has donated thousands of dollars to the President's campaign and other Democrat campaigns. This is completely unacceptable.

It's long past time that we have a real and thorough investigation conducted by an objective investigator. Thousands of American citizens deserve to see justice pursued rather than have these abuses swept, under the rug.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding.

It is time to end the budget games in Washington, D.C., and this bill is one way to bring more accountability and more honest budgeting to Washington.

Four years ago, when the President's health care law was passed, it included a number of budget gimmicks so that it appeared to be cheaper than it really was. The gimmicks included collecting premiums for 10 years but only paying benefits for 5, delaying some provisions to the year 11, 12, or 13.

We need commonsense budgeting, like the rest of America has to budget. The Pro-Growth Budgeting Act simply allows the Congressional Budget Office to take a policy proposal and measure its impact on future growth. And understand, that also means future generations. That way we can tell if it is a good or a bad policy and make more informed decisions. Some people really don't want to do that.

This bill is about doing what is right for the next generation. No more passing the buck. Let's bring realistic budgeting and accountability to Washington, D.C. Let's pass this bill today.

Mr. Speaker, when the health care law was passed on a party line vote people were assured they could keep their current doctors and insurance plans, it would cost them less, it was not a tax, and there would be no rationing of medical care. Those are not my words. They are the words from the supporters of the bill in the Congress and the Obama Administration.

The stark reality is very different for many of my constituents and hundreds of them have shared with me how this health care law has adversely impacted them. I'd like to share just a few of these comments with you. They are from real people, hardworking Americans who I have the privilege of representing and they are begging for relief:

``My group rate insurance increased 100% and my deductible went from $2,500 to $7,500'' wrote Preston in Brevard, and Margaret says her ``insurances costs jumped 300%.''

Paul in Brevard writes, ``It has created a situation where I can't retire safely.''

Norma in Indian River County says her ``premiums increased $600 per year. That's a lot for someone on a fixed income.''

Tom in south Brevard wrote that the law ``increased premiums and inserted unneeded benefits into our policy.''

Rob in Melbourne fears for his kids, writing: ``My kids cannot find a job and the cost of healthcare is three times more for them than it was previously.'' And another constituent wrote: ``My grandchildren lost their insurance due to the exorbitant increase in monthly premiums by their employer.''

A friend wrote: ``My best friend's hours got cut so the company would not have to provide healthcare for him and his family.'' And, Ed in Titusville wrote of the impact on his daughters: ``Both of my daughters have had their work hours cut [so their employers could avoid providing health insurance].''

Christine in Vero shared: ``With no change in my health, my premiums went up 21% with a $2500 deductible.''

Rob in Melbourne says his insurance costs ``doubled''.

Ralph in Brevard says ``I lost my doctor and am paying for things I don't need.''

Chris in Palm Bay says he ``lost his job and was forced to move and pay higher insurance costs.''

Paul in Palm Bay says: ``The policy increased from $50 a month to $350 a month.''

Terri shares that her doctors won't take her private insurance.

Dave in central Brevard shared that: ``It has DOUBLED my premiums!! I am very upset about Obamacare! FIX IT!''

John says he lost his plan, and Norma writes: ``I have to die, because my medical bills will not be covered.''

I could go on.

This bill simply delays the individual mandate tax penalty for a year so that Americans can pick a plan that they want and that they

can afford, rather than one that the government in Washington tells them they must sign up for.

The President has already given large multinational corporations and labor unions the same waiver. We are simply extending this same flexibility to average Americans who want nothing more than to be treated equally.

Ultimately, when you have to pass a bill to find out what's in it, there's a good chance that you're not going to like what it says. The only way to fix this situation is to repeal this law and replace it with a plan that restores individual freedom and makes health insurance more affordable.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 85, I was on the floor and voting in this

vote series. However, my ``yes'' vote was not recorded. My vote should be recorded as ``yes.''

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote on H.R. 3865 the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act, legislation to prevent the IRS from implementing newly proposed rules to restrict the First Amendment rights of certain non-profit groups. This legislation is an important step in holding the IRS accountable for its illegal targeting of conservative organizations in the run-up to the 2012 election.

Last year it was revealed by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration that the IRS used inappropriate criteria to review organizations applying for tax-exempt status based upon their names and policy positions. Now the IRS wants to rewrite the rules to justify its inappropriate and likely criminal behavior. Congress should not let the IRS take ANY regulatory action until wrong-doers within the IRS are held accountable.

In April, top IRS official Lois Lerner revealed in a public forum that the agency had been discriminating against more than 75 groups with conservative sounding names in the run-up to November 2012. Ms. Lerner actually went so far as to plant a question in the audience about the issue in order to pre-empt the release of the Inspector General's audit.

When all this became public, Members of the Administration including the President and the Attorney General expressed their outrage and called it unacceptable. The Attorney General even went so far as to declare his intent to conduct a criminal investigation.

Furthermore, it's clear from testimony given during the various Congressional hearings over the years and correspondence with the IRS that officials there were not telling Members of Congress the truth. In March of 2012--a year before this story broke--then-IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman assured Congress: `there is no targeting of conservative groups.' On April 23, 2012, I joined with 62 of my House colleagues in writing the IRS Commissioner inquiring further about the possible targeting and we were assured that there was no targeting or delay in processing IRS applications submitted by conservative groups.

Ms. Lerner, a longtime federal employee and senior IRS official, has since asserted her Fifth Amendment Constitutional right by refusing to testify before Congress and tell the American people exactly what the IRS was doing and who had ordered these discriminatory actions.

To make matters worse, it was further revealed that IRS employees released confidential donor information and even private taxpayer records. Disclosing confidential taxpayer information is one of the worst things an IRS employee can do--it's a felony, punishable with a $5,000 fine and up to 5 years in prison. In fact, the Treasury Inspector General noted at least eight instances of unauthorized access to records, with at least one willful violation.

These are serious abuses but to date, not a single IRS employee has been indicted. The FBI has refused to file criminal charges. The Washington Post has reported that the investigation into this scandal is being led by Barbara Bosserman, a partisan who `donated a combined $6,750 to President Obama's elections and the Democratic National Committee between 2004 and 2012.' Furthermore, she does not serve in the Public Integrity Section that typically oversees these matters, but rather the Civil Rights Division, historically the most partisan office at the Department of Justice.

This week I am joined by nearly fifty of my House colleagues in writing to the Attorney General demanding the appointment of an independent special prosecutor to investigate the IRS's illegal targeting of conservative groups. Only an independent investigator who is not aligned with either political party will have the credibility to get to the bottom of this matter and hold wrong-doers accountable-- whoever they may be.

I have also introduced H.R. 3762 which would hold federal employees at the IRS personally accountable when they release private taxpayer information. Under this bill, individuals whose private information is released would have a personal right of action against the employee rather than simply hoping that the Department of Justice will take action.

Mr. Speaker, for the past twenty five years employees and volunteers from the Treasure Coast Food Bank have been aiding in the mission to alleviate hunger by collecting and distributing food and other essentials to local Florida residents in need. Our community has been well-served by the staff and volunteers of Treasure Coast Food Bank and they are to be commended for twenty six years of hard work and dedication in serving our community.

The Treasure Coast Food Bank is one of 14 food banks in Florida and the only food bank to serve the four county areas of Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties.

Led by CEO Judith A. Cruz and the dedicated staff of the Food Bank, the Treasure Coast Food Bank is a nonprofit clearinghouse that collects, stores, and distributes useable surplus food to non-profit organizations that then provide it to those in need at no cost.

Treasure Coast Food Bank is a partner with Feeding America (formerly called America's Second Harvest) the national network of more than 200 food banks. In 2011, Treasure Coast Food Bank distributed almost 8 million pounds of food within our communities.

In addition to their core mission, Treasure Coast Food Bank provides educational resources and guided tours of their headquarters to the public so our community can gain a greater understanding of what a Food Bank does, how it serves a critical role in fighting hunger on the Treasure Coast and how the public can become more involved in supporting the Food Bank and its clients.

The Treasure Coast Food Bank has enjoyed a longstanding reputation for treating all people with respect and dignity. I commend all of those who have given time and support over the last 25 years to sustain the Treasure Coast Food Bank and ensure that it can fulfill its mission. We are all proud of their success and commitment to serving our community.

Throughout the course of American history, non-profit and charitable organizations have always played a critical role helping those in need. The Treasure Coast Food Bank is a living testament to that effort. They allow each and every one of us to directly make a difference in the lives of those who have fallen on hard times and need a helpful hand. Organizations like the Treasure Coast Food Bank are often more successful, more compassionate and more personally connected than a government program.

As we enter the holiday season, this is a good time for us to think about those who may be in need and consider ways that we might support efforts like those of the Treasure Coast Food Bank.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the service of Palm Bay Police Chief Douglas Muldoon. Chief Muldoon has dedicated the last 36 years of his life to making our community a safer place to raise our children and pursue our dreams. Throughout 2013, he has served as the National President of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA).

Chief Muldoon began his career in local law enforcement in 1976 as an officer with the Palm Bay Police Department. He spent a large part of his career working as a local liaison to the FBI, having graduated from the FBI National Academy. The National Academy is a professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders with rigorous training in the latest innovative techniques of law enforcement.

In 1998, Chief Muldoon served as the President of the Florida Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates and, for the past year, he has served as President of the FBI National Academy Associates. His experience, training, and dedication to law enforcement have greatly enhanced the Palm Bay Police Department.

Our city is blessed to have someone who has taken such an active role in serving our community and our nation, and I am proud of his commitment to making Palm Bay a safer place to live.

Mr. Speaker, I want to draw attention to a positive program that helps young people make better choices. It is called the Reality Check Program, and it was founded by Larry Lawton of West Melbourne, Florida.

In his youth, Mr. Lawton lived a life of crime, and that ultimately landed him in Federal prison for 11 hard years. Upon his release, Larry dedicated his life to helping kids everywhere make better choices by reaching at-risk young people before they make serious mistakes. Larry uses his experiences in prison to show kids the truth about where that path leads and what life in prison is really like.

The Reality Check Program has earned recognition from many in local law enforcement, from county and State judges and, of course, from families and, possibly, wayward kids. In Missouri, the Lake St. Louis Police Department enlisted Larry Lawton as an honorary deputy.

Helping kids make better choices makes for healthier families, safer communities, and a stronger Nation. I salute the program.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Space Coast Early Intervention Center (SCEIC) and its long running efforts to serve Florida children with and without special needs. For the past 25 years, SCEIC has established a unique inclusive program to ensure equal learning opportunities for all children regardless of ability. Their goal is to provide children with the academic and social skills needed to succeed in life.

The Space Coast Early Intervention Center was founded by Betsy Farmer, who recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the SCEIC's 25th Anniversary Celebration for her vision to establish Brevard's premier preschool.

The preschool is renowned for providing a safe, quality and high achieving learning environment for children with developmental delays such as William's syndrome, Rhett's Syndrome, Cerebral palsy, Autism, Pervasive developmental delays and Apert Syndrome, as well as children with visual, speech and hearing delays.

The SCEIC's curriculum is designed around key development indicators--language, literacy and communication; social and emotional development; physical development and health; mathematics; science and technology; social studies, and creative arts. Through curriculum and play, students are taught social skills necessary to develop successful friendships, appropriate behavior and have daily opportunities to develop and strengthen basic skills necessary to manage themselves, resolve conflict and develop positive social behaviors.

The Space Coast Early Intervention Center enrolls more than 70 students and has a staff of over 25 teachers and nearly 600 volunteers. The Center conducts monthly parent education sessions, as well as community training outreach programs. Additionally, a team of occupational, speech, and physical therapists, and teacher assistants are trained in child care services, First Aid and applied behavioral analysis.

The Space Coast Early Intervention Center provides a tremendously valuable service to families and our community. The Center's dedication to helping children develop the skills they need to succeed in life makes our nation stronger and our future more secure.

``Mr. Speaker, ``As a direct result of the health care law, 10 million Americans risk having their health insurance plans cancelled. Tens of millions more are seeing their costs go up and coverage changed, and they are losing access to their doctors and health care networks.

``I get messages daily from my constituents who have had their policies cancelled, seen 200%--400% increases in their health insurance premiums, or who have been cut to part-time work because of the new law. They are finding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to be unaffordable for their families.

``Today the House will consider bipartisan legislation that will help reverse these effects of this law for many Americans, providing relief to some of those who have been harmed.

``The sad reality is that the ACA is inherently flawed and unworkable, and this reality is starting to catch-up with Americans across this nation. The broken website is just the tip of the disastrous iceberg as the law has fundamental and costly flaws.

``The fact that the Administration has now decided to waive ACA mandates is testimony to the fact that the health care law is directly responsible for millions of Americans losing their coverage, huge increases in health care premiums, along with the loss of access to doctors and hospital networks. There would be no need for the Administration to waive the health care law if the law was not the problem.

``Unfortunately, the Administration's proposal falls short by only providing a short-term waiver of the mandates. If it's so bad, then we really should be addressing the fundamental flaws, not simply trying to get beyond the next election. The only way to fix this situation, which will get worse, is for Washington to scrap this law and start over in a transparent process with bipartisan reforms that respect individual freedom and fairness.''

Mr. Speaker, the President promised Mr. Griffin in my district and millions of other Americans that, if they wanted to, they could keep their own doctor. Unfortunately, he found out already that is not true.

Americans were told that they could keep their own insurance company if

they liked it. Unfortunately, that is not true either. They were told it would cost less. Unfortunately, that is not true either. They were told it would not create a new tax. Unfortunately, that is not true either. They were told there would not be any rationing. Unfortunately, that is not true either.

It is not right; it is not fair; and it is not good for the United States of America.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I first met the man, the legend, really, known as Bill Young, in 1974; but it wasn't until I got elected to Congress in 2008 that I realized what a larger-than-life true leader this man was and what a wonderful and great mentor he was not just to me and everybody in my freshman class, but we find out everybody that has ever served in this place. He was wise, gentle, kind, honest, thoughtful, and helpful to anyone just for the asking.

I called him a hero; and until his last days, he would blush, as he was so humble, that anybody would address him like that. What a wonderful man. Never, ever before and probably never

again will every man and woman serving us in uniform have as great an advocate as they had in Congressman Young.

My thoughts and prayers remain with Beverly, his family, and his staff.

Rest in peace, Bill.

Mr. Speaker, most people are shocked to learn that the House and the Senate have already agreed on a level of funding.

There are only two issues stopping the shutdown from stopping right now: number 1, make Congress and the White House obey the same ObamaCare laws as everybody else; and, number 2, the President gave Big Business 1 year off. We want families to have an opportunity for 1 year off.

Equal treatment for America's families who work hard and play by the rules, that is the Republican plan. That is what the argument is about.

To give special benefits only to big corporations and special interests is not fair, it is not right, and it is not good for the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, most people are surprised and actually stunned and amazed to discover that the Senate and the House have agreed--at least for the next 5 weeks--on a level of funding.

This is not an argument about money. This shutdown is not about money. There are only two issues stopping the shutdown from coming to an end right this second. The President was on television yesterday, for over an hour, and never mentioned those two issues.

We've agreed on the money. Here are the issues:

Make Congress and the White House obey the same ObamaCare rules as everybody else in the United States of America.

The President gave Big Business and special interests a 1-year break from being a part of ObamaCare.

We want America's workers and families who work hard and play by the rules to have the same advantage. That's what Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in my district say they want.

To give special benefits only to Big Business and special interests is not fair, it's not right, and it's not good for the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, there are just two issues stopping the Obama shutdown from ending: number one, make Congress and the White House obey the same ObamaCare rules as everyone else; number two, the President let business off the hook for a year. We want workers to be let off the hook for a year, too.

That's what Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in my district all want, and that's what the Republicans ask--equal justice for all Americans. What is so hard to understand about all that? It's really that simple.

They will negotiate with Putin, Assad, and even Iran, but not with House Republicans. That's not fair. That's not right. And it's not good for the United States of America.