Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Richard Blankenship of Hillsboro, Ohio.

Richard's time here on earth will be remembered by many as serving both his community, and his country. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served his country with dedication.

And that dedication and passion was felt in the Cincinnati and Hillsboro communities, where Richard served in a number of different roles, influencing the lives of many.

From the Cincinnati Bengals, to the Southern State Community College, to East Clinton High School, where he served as both a coach and a teacher. At Finneytown Local Schools, where he taught and held various coaching positions, teaching students important lessons of teamwork and leadership.

When Richard retired from teaching in Finneytown in 2003, he said ``I will miss being with students and parents, but it's time to hang up my gym shoes.''

Richard, our communities are better for having you here, teaching our children, students, and those around you, and changing their lives for the better.

My thoughts are with the Blankenship family.

Mr. Speaker, a member of the Ohio Second District community passed away this week, and our Nation lost a hero.

Charles Geraci was a beloved resident of Norwood, Ohio. He was known as a husband of 70\1/2\ years, grandfather to 31, and a great- grandfather to 16.

But he was also an American hero. Charles enlisted in the Army on December 10, 1942, and, after basic training, was stationed in England in 1943. Just a few months later Charles was in the second wave at Omaha Beach in Normandy, where he was wounded while storming the beaches. After recovering and being sent back to his unit, Charles was wounded by shrapnel and then shot again during combat. He was in Normandy for only 5 months and credits his survival to God.

While his courage earned him three Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star Award, Charles refers to his service

during World War II with a deep humility that defines the Greatest Generation. He said: ``We were there to do the job, and we did it. And I came back.''

Our country can never repay Charles for his service and sacrifice, but we can stand as a grateful nation to honor his life and legacy with our deepest respect.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Helen, and the rest of the Geraci family.

Truly, it is men and women like Charles Geraci whom we can credit for the gift of freedom that we are able to pass along to our children and grandchildren. They protected and preserved that gift with their very lives. For that, we remain eternally grateful.

I appreciate that, and I thank you for yielding and thank you for taking the charge on this this evening to share this message.

Mr. Speaker, first, do no harm. Do no harm. These are three short words, but, to physicians, they represent a sacred charge--three short words that now hang in the balance here in the District of Columbia after the D.C. Council passed the Death with Dignity Act legalizing physician-assisted suicide in the Nation's Capital.

In authorizing doctors to violate the Hippocratic oath of ``do no harm,'' physician-assisted suicide undermines a key safeguard that protects our Nation's most vulnerable citizens: the disabled, the sick, the poor--a key safeguard that helps to ensure our loved ones receive the best medical care when they need it the most.

Instead of simply providing end-of-life comfort and a potential for cure, D.C.'s new law is poised to do more harm than good. This act leaves patients unprotected, doctors unaccountable, and our most vulnerable citizens at risk of having fewer medical options at their disposal rather than having more. It is too broad. This act allows adults diagnosed with a terminal disease having less than 6 months to live to receive a prescription for medication to end their life on their own--alone.

There are concerns that the definition of ``terminal disease'' is too broad since most doctors will admit that accurately predicting life expectancy is almost impossible; and it is. There are many conditions such as diabetes or HIV--they are considered incurable or

irreversible, and they are terminal if left untreated. There are many diseases that are terminal if left untreated, but curable if treated.

This bill fails to accurately protect patients from coercion or abuse. Despite the fact that depression is commonly associated with a patient seeking assisted suicide, D.C.'s legislation does not make screening for mental illness mandatory. It also has no safeguard against pressure that family members or heirs might exert on a patient to choose suicide.

It leaves doctors unaccountable. Compliance with the bill's limited safeguards is difficult to track because the bill directs doctors not to place the actual cause and manner of death on the death certificate. It doesn't say ``suicide.'' The report requirements in the bill are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Perhaps most concerning of all, once the prescription for lethal medication is filled, oversight is nonexistent. There is no requirement to ensure that the prescription was used as intended.

This could limit care. Under the new law, patients may end up with fewer options, not more options. D.C. residents who are not able to pay for health care out of pocket may find their options limited when facing a new diagnosis, suffering from a chronic illness, facing a disability, or struggling with mental illness. For certain medical conditions, assisted suicide could become the cheapest option.

Ultimately, whatever its intentions, D.C.'s new law puts patients at risk and could limit their access to high-quality health care. It could limit their access to cures. It prioritizes cost over compassion, cost over care. We have weighed this legislation. We have looked at it seriously, and we find it very wanting. D.C. residents deserve better.

Twenty-two years ago, my sister was diagnosed with an incurable cancer, and she had very little time to live. She was, at one point, given the option of a bone marrow transparent, and her insurance said: It is experimental. We don't cover it.

We had to fight that, and we were going to do it anyway. It is 22 years later. She survived. She is doing well. She is married and has two children, but somebody was telling her: It is not worth it.

This affects people with disabilities. This affects the poor. This attitude reminds me of a comment from the movie, ``It's a Wonderful Life'' when Mr. Potter says to George Bailey: ``George, you're worth more dead than alive.'' That is not who we are, folks.

In this bill, there is no verification or validation that the prescription was taken as intended, for the person intended, or even taken at all. There is no witness necessary, no provider to address any complications that may occur when taking the medications, no assurance that it is not misused or used on someone else, and no actual cause of death is reported.

In this, they say: ``Actions taken in accordance with this act do not constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide.'' Oh, really? Maybe they should look up the definitions of those words. The definition of homicide is the killing of one person by another whether intended or not. The definition of suicide is the act of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally.

This bill is bad for the people of D.C. This is bad for America. This is not who we are. This is not who we are as a compassionate, caring group of Americans--especially caregivers, especially doctors. We can do better, and we all need to stand up against this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of providing a waiver permitting the nomination of General James Mattis to the Office of Secretary of Defense.

General Mattis is an exceptional warrior, strategist, and leader. At a time in which the United States faces an increasingly diverse array of threats around the globe, his unique skill set and decades of experience render him worthy of this exceptional legislation.

Civilian control of the military is a foundational underpinning of our system of government, and it is one of General Mattis' nomination strengths, not weaknesses.

Just as every one is a civilian before they join the military, they return to civilian life when they leave it. Since becoming a civilian 3\1/2\ years ago, General Mattis has thoughtfully analyzed the civilian-military relationship, coediting an analysis of the state of civilian-military relations today. This work includes recommendations that aim to, in his words: ``Ensure our military are braided tightly to our broader society in a manner that will keep alive our experiment in democracy.''

Throughout his distinguished career, General Mattis has demonstrated a mastery of all aspects of American leadership on the global stage. He has a keen grasp of the value of diplomacy and has been a strong supporter of the State Department and its valuable mission.

Throughout his decades of service, he has accumulated a deep understanding of the importance of deterrence and how a well-guarded peace can prevent conflict before it begins. As a seasoned strategic thinker, he has been an incisive critic of current and serious, long- term planning for American national security that hasn't really existed.

General Mattis knows firsthand the reality of combat and the stakes involved in any decision to use military force. The United States needs a Secretary of Defense equipped to use every tool necessary to defend our Nation and defeat our adversaries.

Because of General Mattis' unique capabilities to address the multitude of threats our country faces today, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, it is shocking: human trafficking is the fastest growing business of organized crime and the third largest criminal enterprise in the world. In my home State of Ohio, the most common age a child becomes victimized by trafficking is 13 years old. At 13, a child should be looking forward to their first days of high school, not living in fear. In 2014 alone, in Ohio, 98 arrests were made in human trafficking investigations, involving 181 potential victims.

Today, the House is fighting back.

The anti-trafficking bills this week will take aim at modern trafficking networks and the criminals who seek to abuse the lives of their victims. These bills encourage States to adopt safe harbor laws, enhance services for homeless youth, and further protect children in our Nation's foster system. We must help survivors reclaim their lives through heightened public awareness and increased collaboration among governments.

Our Founders declared inherent and inalienable the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Human trafficking violates these core rights. A strong commitment to every human life will help the millions who suffer in the dark shadows of this heinous crime.

``Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.''

Mr. Speaker, Dave Jones lived a life of service to freedom, to his faith, and to his family. Dave's wife Sally was a patient of mine, and I've had the opportunity to get to know their family over the past few years.

Dave passed away late last month--a loss not only for his family, but also for fellow members of his church and the people of Cincinnati's East End who he served through his church's outreach program.

Dave served in the military, returned home, raised a family, and ran a successful insurance business.

Dave was a rugged man, but a tender husband, father and grandfather. At their church Dave and Sally taught Sunday School.

Dave and Sally raised five sons and are proud grandparents to three girls and two boys. Today we share their sorrow, but also share the faith that Dave is enjoying his eternal reward.

Dave Jones' legacy will continue through his children and grandchildren who learned firsthand from Dave's daily demonstration of faith through action, dedication to others, and love of family.

It has been a true honor to know Dave and to represent him in Congress. Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the President's request to train vetted, moderate Syrian rebels, as I believe it is only one step in the right direction and it's supported by military experts.

Tremendous oversight is going to be necessary in this effort. And unfortunately I fear, as do many experienced generals and military personnel, that it's part of a strategy that's insufficient to secure America's national security.

The President's stated objective is to destroy ISIL. However, I believe that this overall strategy, and the means requested, are not enough to meet this objective.

The current strategy relies on U.S. airpower in support of local forces. This is not a counterterrorism effort, and to destroy ISIL, it's necessary to have strong coordinated ground troops.

The local ground forces the President is planning to rely on appear currently unready and they will need to operate with a strong central command and control.

The President's strategy does not provide for U.S. Special Forces and the backing of our grounds troops, even though our military leaders have repeatedly suggested the exact recommendation.

Our security is too important to base military strategy on political calculations. Our strategy must be firmly rooted in what is necessary in order to complete the mission and to ensure our security. From Clausewitz to Powell, military leaders have preached the necessity of decisive force.

I served in Iraq. We heeded this wisdom and committed to win with decisive force. We acted on military reality and not political risk.

We can do this again and fulfill the American objective to destroy ISIL, but we must commit ourselves to do what is necessary. Not only what it takes, but whatever it takes.

Mr. Speaker, I missed two votes on September 18, 2014, due to being unavoidably detained at an earlier event. If I were present, I would have voted on the following:

Thursday, September 18, 2014:

Rollcall No. 512: On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, H.R. 4, ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 513: On Passage of H.R. 4, ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the President's request to train vetted moderate Syrian rebels, as I believe it is only one step in the right direction and it is supported by military experts.

Tremendous oversight is going to be necessary in this effort and, unfortunately, I fear, as do many experienced generals and military personnel, that it is part of a strategy that is insufficient to secure America's national security.

The President's stated objective is to destroy ISIL; however, I believe this overall strategy and the means requested are not enough to meet this objective.

The current strategy relies on U.S. airpower in support of local forces. This is not a counterterrorism effort, and to destroy ISIL it is necessary to have strong coordinated ground troops. The local ground forces the President is planning to rely on appear currently unready, and they will need to operate with a strong central command and control.

The President's strategy does not provide for U.S. Special Forces in the backing of our ground troops, even though our military leaders have repeatedly suggested that exact recommendation.

Our security is too important to base military strategy on political calculations. Our strategy must be firmly rooted in what is necessary in order to complete the mission and to ensure our security.

From Clausewitz to Powell, military leaders have preached the necessity of decisive force. I served in Iraq. We heeded this wisdom and committed to win with decisive force. We acted on militarily reality and not political risk. We can do this again and fulfill the American objective to destroy ISIL, but we must commit ourselves to do what is necessary--not only what it takes, but whatever it takes.

Mr. Speaker, if a Cincinnatian were audited tomorrow, the IRS would expect my constituent to have the last 7 years of records to simply prove their compliance with the law. The IRS? Not so much. It is a different standard for them.

After spending years politically targeting Americans, and trampling the First Amendment to silence opposition, the IRS is hiding from the American people. Now, instead of coming clean, the IRS is essentially saying: Sorry, the dog ate my homework. They say: Our emails are missing.

It would appear that Lois Lerner knew what she was doing. In April 2013 she warned staff to be cautious about what information they put in emails.

The Federal Government cannot and should not expect to live above the rules that govern every hardworking American. The breach of trust is devastating. The American people expect a government that is answerable to the people, not one that shirks any accountability or responsibility for blatant political abuse.

A viable special prosecutor must be appointed to get answers. We can't continue to let bureaucrats hide from justice.

Thank you. I appreciate my friend, the gentleman from Utah, for putting this together tonight to allow us to share our message in support of Israel.

The fear that has engulfed innocent civilians in this conflict is really unthinkable. In southern Ohio and across America, could you imagine rockets raining down indiscriminately on Cincinnati or Chillicothe or Portsmouth? Ohioans know the fear that they feel when they hear tornado sirens blare and the impending threat of possible destruction. Imagine that fear amplified and extended continuously over weeks by an enemy that seeks to eliminate your country and your countrymen.

The continued success of the Iron Dome has protected countless innocents and weakened the perpetual threat posed by the terrorist organizations that surround them. I am proud to say that America has been a strong partner in pioneering this technology.

While Israel continues to protect their people with the Iron Dome, Hamas urges Palestinians to become human shields to protect their Hamas rockets.

We all hope for a peaceful resolution to the current conflict. Unfortunately, Hamas continually rejects cease-fire deals. Hamas refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist and is dedicated to destroying the State of Israel.

Just yesterday, Hamas used tunnels to burrow into Israel and ambush Israeli soldiers, killing many. Can you imagine a terrorist group with tunnels built to infiltrate your town, your village, your city?

The construction materials used to build these terrorist tunnels were intended to construct schools and hospitals, but Hamas would rather continue its perpetual aggression with Israel than better the lives of the Palestinian people. Hamas would rather fire rockets from playgrounds and homes than work towards peace.

The American public stands with Israel on a foundation of shared democratic values and a commitment to a free society, especially in the face of rising anti-Semitism across the globe.

Israel cannot draw down while Hamas continues to dig tunnels, giving them unfettered access to towns.

Every Nation has the right and responsibility to defend itself, and Israel is no different.

Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The IRS has admitted to paying politics with our Tax Code, going as far as singling out certain groups for having ``patriot'' in their name. Unfortunately, much of the targeting that occurred happened in my district's backyard, in the IRS field office in Cincinnati. Americans have the right to be outraged, and they deserve better.

I want to thank the chairman of the committee for ensuring that free speech rights are protected in this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I wrote to you in April asking that we prohibit funding to implement proposed rules on 501(c)(4) organizations, and my constituents are appreciative that you acted. By prohibiting funding for certain IRS activities, this bill would prevent these IRS abuses from becoming law. Importantly, this bill is designed to make sure the government works for its citizens, not against them.

While the House continues its efforts to get to the bottom of the IRS political targeting, this is a meaningful action we can take now to make sure the behavior isn't repeated. Every American has the right to participate and engage in civic debate and must be protected from partisan bureaucrats.

IRS targeting isn't just an affront to the Constitution, but a threat to all Americans seeking to exercise their First Amendment rights. I thank the chairman and his committee again for their diligent work on this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to follow through on a promise the American Government made to the people in my district and across the country to fund nuclear cleanup projects at cold war enrichment facilities. This amendment would direct $15 million to the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund.

At the height of the atomic age, the government began enriching uranium in our arms race against the Soviet threat. One of these facilities is the Portsmouth plant in Pike County, Ohio. Today, half a century later, it needs to be decommissioned and cleaned up, a task that has been entrusted to the Department of Energy.

Like other DOE projects, Portsmouth is largely funded through uranium sales. Since the price of uranium has dropped significantly since Fukushima, additional funding is necessary to make up for the loss of revenue.

The community cannot move forward without an adequate cleanup. The people of Pike County and the region worked extremely hard for the national security interests of this country. Unfortunately, we, the Federal Government, seem to be running from them in their time of need. This community is held hostage, unable to develop their economy and their land until the cleanup is complete. Delaying the cleanup punishes a community that answered our Nation's call, and now our Nation is willing to walk away from them, leaving a radioactive and chemical contamination.

Without adequate funding, the Federal Government is leaving a massively contaminated site right in the heartland of our country. A delay in funding for fiscal 2015 only means a higher cost to the government in future years.

The success of the environmental management work at the Portsmouth plant is critical to the Pike County area and the entire region. We are talking about good, honest, hardworking Americans, and we are standing in their way by undercutting the project's funding and leaving a contaminated cold war facility in the heart of their community.

In an effort to minimize wasteful delays, unnecessary layoffs, and job loss, our amendment would provide $15 million for this fund, completely paid for by offsets in the bill from less crucial administrative and energy accounts. This amendment prioritizes funding for an actual, existing, ongoing project that employs hundreds of hardworking Ohioans and keeps important environmental management work on schedule.

I acknowledge and appreciate the committee's work to include $15 million in funding for this project, but the bottom line is this is far short of the needed $65 million more to continue the cleanup project in a timely manner. Again, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. With each delay, the cost goes up.

Our Nation benefited from the work conducted in Pike County, and now they are being left out and endure more uncertainty from Washington. This site must be cleaned up. It is an environmental imperative and an economic imperative, and it is the right thing to do.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio.

The $15 million is coming from renewable energy accounts and less crucial administrative accounts.

Reclaiming my time, you know, renewable is not an option for this area of America until it is cleaned up, and waiting costs more and it paralyzes a large portion of Ohio.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 60 seconds to my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Johnson).

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to welcome the Parish Choir and Choristers of St. Thomas Episcopal Church to our nation's capital.

The choir, along with their Rector, The Rev. Darren R. S. Elin, and music director, Dr. Carlton Monroe, was one of a few Episcopal choirs invited to sing at the National Cathedral this summer, a very distinct honor.

I congratulate these men, women, and children on this special occasion, and I commend them for their service to their community and to God. We are fortunate to have such talented and dedicated people in the Second Congressional District of Ohio.

Again, congratulations to the St. Thomas Church Choir on this well- deserved honor. I wish them the best of luck this weekend and in the future.