Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, it is with both sadness and pride that I rise to honor Damon Nelson. America lost a great patriot at too young of an age. Damon dedicated nearly his entire life to public service and always put service above self. He understood that freedom comes at a high price, and he dedicated his life to defending freedom for the next generation.

He believed that our country is worth sacrificing for and that freedom is worth fighting for. As Mr. Holding said, he served in the U.S. Air Force as an in-flight refueling specialist and was a veteran of the Persian Gulf War where he earned the Air Medal and three Air Achievement Medals.

Damon began his service on Capitol Hill working for his home district, the 22nd District of California. I know Damon for his exemplary service as the staff director for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Damon helped guide our committee and indeed our country through a tumultuous time with an unfailing commitment to seeking the truth and doing the right thing.

His calm leadership approach is an example to all of us. At moments where it seems like things may be falling apart, Damon was there with a joke and a laugh to hold the group together. He often used sarcasm with us when we needed it most, and he was a statesman when we needed it most. His kind and patient demeanor earned Damon the respect of everyone he knew. In a political climate that is often difficult, he kept sight on the fact that we are all Americans.

Indeed, all of us who knew Damon will sorely miss his strategic mind, warm personality, and genuine concern for others. My heart is with Damon's wife, Dana, and his family. I pray God's healing grace will be with them during this difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in remembrance of Gregory P. Frohn, a beloved husband and father. He passed on at the age of 54, on September 26, 2018.

Greg was a champion diver and swimmer in his youth. He later pursued a career as an orthotic and prosthetic technician and made it possible for thousands of people to walk and enjoy life, pain free.

Greg is survived by his wife Karen, his daughter Erin M. Frohn Rizzo, two grandchildren, eleven-year-old Dylan Rizzo and four-year-old Alayna Rizzo, his brother J. Patrick Jr. and nephew J. Patrick Frohn III, and his mother and father, G. Elain Frohn, and J. Patrick Frohn, Sr.

By all accounts he was a good man, a loving husband, and a devoted father. He was greatly loved himself and will be missed by all who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Connor Frantz, a remarkable young man from Cincinnati.

Connor has a heart for serving our veterans. As early as the age of 9, he was thinking up ways to make a difference in the lives of those who served our great nation.

He recently created his own nonprofit, called ``Heroes Are Never Alone.'' Connor's organization partners with the Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs to most efficiently connect community support to veterans in need. Connor has helped raise more than $8,000 so far.

Just this past winter, Heroes Are Never Alone had a tangible impact on Cincinnati's homeless population. Connor's donations were used to purchase winter clothing for veterans on the streets, in shelters, and temporary housing. His donations were also used to purchase hundreds of bus passes that allowed veterans to secure employment, access to housing, and services at food pantries. Connor's organization even donated a storage unit that is now used to store furniture that can be provided to veterans moving into permanent housing.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot end veteran homelessness on our own from Washington. We all benefit from initiatives by private citizens like Connor, who have a passion for helping veterans transition out of this condition. I hope you'll join me in thanking Connor for his efforts. We look forward to following young Connor Frantz's continued good work.

Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that I keep hearing that the tax reforms were for the rich. The only phone calls I got complaining about our tax reform were from the rich.

I had one gentleman call me and actually say: For those of us with three or four homes, this is going to kill us.

Are you kidding me? And you keep saying this is a tax break for the rich. They are the only ones complaining to me.

As a former small-business owner, I can tell you how difficult it is to plan for the future. When you sit down to look at your company's finances, you may be worried about paying your employees' salaries or making the rent on time.

So many in this body, historically, have never run a business, yet they have historically done a very good job of running some businesses into the ground. The last thing any business owner wants to think about is: I wonder what the Federal Government is going to do to my taxes 5, 10, 15 years from now.

Constant uncertainty does not work for the American people. High taxes don't work for the American people. People want to keep their money.

The House of Representatives is prepared to remedy these concerns for many years to come. The Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018 that is on the floor today as part of tax reform 2.0 would make lower tax rates for all income levels permanent.

Critically, this bill permanently extends a major deduction for pass- through businesses, which make up most of the small businesses in the U.S. This is significant peace of mind for the barbershop in town, for your neighbor's lawn care business, for the garage-to-Main Street startups, and for the millions of business dreams that, for now, are still dreams.

Mr. Speaker, we now have one of the most competitive tax codes on the globe. Let's make certain that we keep it that way.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in support of Mr. Kelly's bill.

Our colleague across the aisle just gave us some very sad statistics that so many of our fellow Americans have when it comes to savings in their lives, so I am surprised that they would want to keep things the same.

You see, tax reform has brought opportunity and hope and a positive energy to America. Our national economy is booming. Wages are on the rise. Americans are taking home bigger paychecks, and businesses are investing more in their employees.

But how can we help families invest in their future, invest for their retirement?

The opportunity is now. With wages up, now is the time.

Today, 40 percent of Americans say they cannot cover an unexpected expense of $400. Many Americans are unprepared for upcoming retirements, awaiting a Social Security check that may be smaller than they ever expected. Others may be unprepared for a medical emergency.

Sadly, 32 years ago, when I started my business, almost $200,000 in debt, I was advised to pay off my student loans, pay off my debt and, as I looked down the road, don't count on Social Security to even be there.

We need to use the economic success that we are seeing today to alleviate the widespread savings crisis in American communities and in American families. The Family Savings Act of 2018, on the floor today as part of Tax Reform 2.0, is one opportunity to do just that.

Millions of Americans would gain access to new savings vehicles: Universal Savings Accounts offering withdrawals at any time, in any amount, for any purpose; joint small business 401(k) plans; expanded 529 education accounts to pay for apprenticeships, homeschooling, or student loan debt.

This is an opportunity to break down the barriers that limit businesses' ability to offer retirement plans and individuals' ability to save is enhanced.

By eliminating the maximum age limit for IRA contributions and exempting individuals with small retirement accounts from making mandatory distributions, this legislation encourages workers to save and enables them to do so.

These reforms offer flexibility for families to save, when able, and spend, when needed; and they offer options for employers--to help local businesses provide retirement plans for their employees. Let's help our fellow Americans be on the path to financial security, especially during our later years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to sound the alarm about an ominous trend that seems to be taking hold in our Nation.

In June, a self-avowed democratic socialist jumped into the national spotlight in her quest to join this body. Many view her as carrying the mantle for a new socialist trend among some in the United States.

So, I ask, what would socialist policies mean for our country's future?

I have come to realize that a whole generation of Americans have grown up for whom the Soviet Union is just a distant historical memory. Many have no personal memory of when the Soviet Union came crashing down in 1991, which was dramatic proof that its socialist system was a dismal failure. Many can't recall the feeling of national pride over the fact that, in contrast, the free economy of the United States had succeeded in producing the highest standard of living in world history.

So perhaps it is understandable that, for a new generation, the old, empty promises of socialism seem to carry a new allure.

Socialism, by definition, is the political and economic theory of social organization whereby production, distribution, and exchange should be owned and regulated by the community as a whole. In other words, what is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.

Usually, it is the latter that gets people to buy in. That is, what is yours is mine. This concept holds a strong appeal for many people because it addresses legitimate concerns over inequity and injustice.

The problem is that, for all its high-minded fairness, socialism doesn't work. It is not just a castle in the air; it is the promise of a palace that is really built on quicksand. You don't have to look back to the Soviet Union to see this.

Venezuela is just the latest tragic example of socialism's devastation. At the beginning of the 21st century, Venezuela was one of the top 20 richest countries in the world. Today, its poverty rate is 87 percent, and its inflation rate is predicted to be approaching 1 million percent--yes, 1 million.

Once, Venezuela's capital was a tourist destination with a thriving culture. Today, it is the crime capital of the world.

This crisis is the result of the redistributive policies and the systematic destruction of economic freedom by a corrupt and elitist administration.

As President Trump said in his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly: ``The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented.''

It is a sobering reminder that while socialism's torchbearers may change, the havoc it wreaks with its hollow promises remains the same. What we must remember is that America is not immune.

As President Ronald Reagan famously said: ``Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream.''

Socialism, faithfully implemented, could cripple our Nation's peace and prosperity over time, just as it did in Venezuela.

It is easy to see the allure of socialism. Socialists say that they desire an equitable distribution of wealth and then characterize capitalism as rampant greed and materialism.

Ironically, it is typically the advocates of socialism who display the excess desire for material goods. There is the obsession with making things free, from phones, to internet access, to a college education. Theirs is the obsession with disparities in income, rather than a concern with job opportunities.

Socialism holds a strong appeal for many because it legitimizes coveting your neighbor's possessions, which was once commonly understood as against the Tenth Commandment. And the premises of socialism, all under the high-minded guise of fairness, are anything but fair.

Capitalism, on the other hand, is responsible for the enormous levels of philanthropic giving that we see in the United States of America, the most generous Nation ever known to mankind.

We must continue to speak out boldly, not based on fear, but based on facts. We must continue to tell the truth, regardless of its popularity. We must continue to implement policies that unleash the power of our free economy and create more opportunities for all Americans, like the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with its bipartisan opportunity zones.

It is my firm belief that, in the marketplace of ideas, freedom will always win out over socialism on the bases of merit, evidence, and facts. But it cannot win if no one is making the case.

Mr. Speaker, let's continue to stand up and speak out. Let's make the case for freedom and opportunity for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about school safety. I present as a doctor, a healthcare professional, as a father, and as a Representative that is open to new ideas from people who are really attempting to do something to try to make our schools safer and better for our children.

As a doctor, I see violence as a public health crisis which is multifaceted, with different contributing factors to consider and with preventive strategies to implement. That is why I want to share with you what a couple of organizations in my district are doing in an attempt to tackle some of the lesser explored potential factors contributing to violence within our schools, among our students, and growing in our society.

It begins with an organization called Screen Education. Screen Education is a Cincinnati-based organization that seeks to understand, scientifically, how technology and social media impacts kids.

Screen Education and EMI Research Solutions, which is an online market research supplier, also from Cincinnati, partnered with Stark Statistical Consulting of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to conduct a survey of students. While their full analysis contains much insight, I would like to share three statistics that I found particularly shocking:

Sixty-eight percent of students said they witnessed someone being bullied online at least several times a year;

Thirty-one percent of students said they had seen online bullying result in physical violence; and

When asked if they felt that using social media will contribute to conditions that can result in school shootings, 73 percent of the students said ``yes.''

Now, to be clear, I am not saying that social media is the sole cause of shootings or suicides, but these statistics are statistics that should shock everyone. Recent findings say revenge is a strong motivation for school shootings and that among students, homicide perpetrators were more than twice as likely as their victims to have been bullied by peers.

These are more than just statistics. They are the reported experiences of our Nation's children on a daily basis, both in and outside of school. So this is an example of a problem that clearly could and should be addressed and that our society surely has the means to deal with.

Some organizations are stepping up to do just that. Bully Bully is a Cincinnati-based firm that was created out of a disconnect that the founder noticed between widespread bullying in our schools and the often reactive, largely ineffective ways of addressing that harassment.

Bully Bully is developing an anonymous reporting app that not only allows students to provide information regarding antagonistic situations, but also assists school administrators in analyzing and addressing these incidents and supporting victims of harassment.

Bully Bully's stated goal is to never allow another incident of intimidation or harassment lead to a school fatality or suicide. What they are saying is: Here is a problem. It might be a factor in violence, and I think we have the means to stop it. So here is a solution. Let's try it.

In my experience, Mr. Speaker, there is rarely a simple solution to a public health crisis. You need to try multiple solutions across multiple fronts. Physical or verbal intimidation may be a facet of this public health crisis that we haven't paid enough attention to but ought to.

I am glad we have Americans like those in my Ohio district who are willing to try and solve part of a large problem. Evidence has suggested that students who get harassed by their peers tend to grow up more socially anxious with less self-esteem and require more mental health services. Hundreds of thousands of students skip school each day out of fear and anxiety.

It may be a more pervasive problem than we think, actually. Recent research by Screen Education on 12- to 16-year-olds at Camp Livingston in Bennington, Indiana, found that students were largely happier by being deprived of their smartphones. They were more engaged and connected to one another as people when removed from the cyber world of drama, gossip, and aggression.

Instead of being forced to react to student violence when tragically necessary, perhaps we should focus on equipping the adult who spends all day with these students with the means to support and guide them.

Let's keep looking for ways to make schools safer for our children and maybe, just maybe, we can make the school experience better and safer for our children as a result.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act, legislation that contains the text of my bill, the VET OPP Act. The VET OPP Act continues our effort to invest in our troops from the day they take their oath of service to when they begin their civilian careers.

Part of our commitment to our men and women in uniform is helping them reintegrate back into civilian life. We can ease this transition by prioritizing programs that help them find meaningful employment or educational opportunities when they return home.

For too long, the outdated structure of the VA has allowed economic opportunity and transition programs for our veterans to fall by the wayside. H.R. 5693 will change that. With the inclusion of the VET OPP Act, it prioritizes veteran employment and education programs at the VA by utilizing existing resources to place educational, employment, and transition programs together in a fourth administration within the VA. This will promote transparency and oversight, while placing greater priority on opportunity-based programs within the VA.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5693.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5649.

As a member of the Army Reserve who served in Iraq, I know how difficult the transition to civilian life can be after service for so many of our servicemembers. I still remember the eerie feeling of the quiet and serenity of home life after returning from the battlefield.

For those servicemembers who don't have a clear cut path upon their return to civilian life, there is often a struggle for what I like to refer to as post-necessary stress.

When you go from being completely necessary, part of a team, part of something big, and you come home and you don't have that same feeling, it takes its toll on you. It is hard for many servicemembers to actually settle back into civilian life when they get back. This is what this is about.

We can combat this problem by encouraging servicemembers to focus on transition earlier. Even when they first join the armed services, imagine if you were being recruited and you are talking to a recruiter about what you plan to do when you enter the military, and if they also said to you, and what do you plan to do afterwards? If we were plotting a course for your life when in uniform and after.

So this gives us a chance to modernize our curriculum for those going through the Transition Assistance Program to ensure that the information they have is timely and specific to the servicemember.

I think this legislation is an important first step to better equip servicemembers with the skills needed to successfully transition into civilian life.

I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. I want to thank the committee, all the members on the committee, and the staff, for pushing this along and doing such a great job of that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Act, legislation that I am proud to have introduced alongside my colleague Congresswoman Bustos, and I thank her for bringing this situation to my attention so that we could bring this forward.

Part of our Nation's commitment to our men and women in uniform is a commitment to their families, especially if they endure the loss of life in the line of duty. As Gold Star families grieve, they should have the freedom to relocate to fit their family's needs. Sadly, that is all too often not the case.

Cindy Southern, a native of Portsmouth, Ohio, lost her husband while he was serving in the Navy overseas during the first Desert Storm war. As she grieved, all she wanted to do was move home, but she had signed a 1-year lease on a home in North Carolina. Her landlords refused to waive her lease without massive termination fees.

Cindy has suffered enough. Others have as well. This legislation would protect Gold Star families by ensuring they are not trapped in a jointly held residential lease after the death of a servicemember. They have grieved enough.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the benefits of tax reform.

Earlier this year, President Trump visited the Sheffer Corporation, a small manufacturing company in my district that pledged $1,000 bonuses to all 126 of its employees as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

During the President's visit to Cincinnati, he invited Sheffer employees on stage to talk about their plans for their new bonuses.

A mom in the audience said she is using her bonus as spare cash for when she sends her children off to college this year. As any parent of a college student knows, the expenses add up and every dollar makes a difference.

The President also invited a young man to the stage to speak. He wants to start a family, and said that this money will go towards a home to raise his children.

While the recent law is an enormous step forward, we must and will continue to move forward to implement smart policies that give Americans the freedom to compete, innovate, and seize the opportunity to carve out a better future for themselves and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague and Chairman Roe for yielding.

In November of last year, I joined my colleague and the ranking member of the Health Subcommittee, Representative Brownley, in reintroducing H.R. 4451, the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act.

This bill would provide much-needed services to our veterans transitioning out of homelessness and ensure no veteran falls through unintended legislative gaps in programs. We do this by reauthorizing through fiscal year 2022 the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, along with programs designed for female homeless veterans and homeless veterans with children. Additionally, the bill would clarify that those eligible for housing assistance from either a Federal or non-Federal entity are also eligible for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

Currently, a gap arises because the Department of Labor considers veterans participating in these housing assistance programs to no longer be defined as homeless. As such, they are unable to participate in the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program, a program that provides vital employment assistance and training.

By prioritizing the reintegration of homeless and recently homeless veterans, we will empower our veterans to reenter the workforce and help them regain self-sufficiency.

Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and we must ensure that they have the tools to succeed in civilian life.

I am proud of Chairman Roe's and the House Veterans' Affairs Committee's commitment to reducing veteran homelessness, and I believe that this legislation only further supports this committee's goals.

I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the staff of the Cincinnati Enquirer for their coverage of the opioid epidemic in Greater Cincinnati, a story which earned them the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting.

Their remarkable coverage of the opioid epidemic brought the severity of our region's plight to the nation's attention. The wide- ranging scope of the Enquirer's story--encompassing addiction, arrests, overdose, even pregnancy and birth--demonstrates just how pervasive and troubling the consequences of the opioid crisis are for millions of Americans.

A call to attention can often be a first step toward solving a problem like the opioid epidemic. In fact, resources for law enforcement, health care professionals, and mental health counselors to fight this epidemic have become more readily available than ever.

Mr. Speaker, I hope you'll join me in congratulating the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Mr. Speaker, I am humbled to follow Sam Johnson here at this podium. I have been in Congress 6 years, and to think that he spent 7 years incarcerated as a POW.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the VA MISSION Act. This legislation is about keeping our promises to those who safeguard our freedoms.

As a member of the Army Reserve and a doctor in the Army, I am all too familiar with the challenges plaguing the VA today. In 2014, America witnessed the heartbreaking results of hidden VA wait lists, and Congress quickly responded with the Veterans Choice Program to ensure that no veteran was kept from care. Now, with the leadership of Chairman Roe, we are delivering a lasting solution to get our deserving veterans the care that they have earned and enacting real reforms for the VA to succeed in the 21st century.

This bill will improve and streamline the VA's community care programs, those outside the walls of the VA, into one cohesive program and give a patient and their doctor more say in the process. This will create a nonpartisan, transparent process to review the VA's infrastructure assets, in line with the recommendation from the Commission on Care.

This bill will expand the VA's post-9/11 caregiver program to all eras of veterans.

The VA MISSION Act also includes my legislation, the VA Provider Equity Act, which aims to enhance the ability of the VA to recruit and retain in-demand surgical specialists, due, in part, to increased use of IEDs in the last decade of war.

Mr. Speaker, if we don't act by May 31, 2018, the funding for the Veterans Choice Program will run out, and veterans across America will be unable to access healthcare.

Finally, I want to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude for the tireless work of the entire VA Committee staff, and specifically Christine Hill and Samantha Gonzalez, for the countless hours that they have put in to getting this across the finish line.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to sponsor the John McCain, Daniel Akaka, and Samuel Johnson VA MISSION Act, named in honor of three American veteran heroes, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Reverend Barry Windholtz.

Father Barry, raised and educated in Cincinnati, has served the Catholic Church for nearly thirty years. He has tirelessly served the Cincinnati community, both from the pulpit and beyond. He is known throughout the Cincinnati area for fostering vibrant parishes from his roles as Associate Pastor at St. Louis Church, Rector of St. Peter in Chains, to his current role as Pastor of St. Rose Church.

Father Barry also serves on the Advisory Boards of St. Vincent de Paul Cincinnati and Pregnancy Center East, where he advocates for the voiceless and those in need of loving support.

Cincinnati is a stronger community because of Father Barry.

Mr. Speaker, I hope you'll join me in thanking and honoring Father Barry Windholtz for his years of service to the people of Cincinnati.